Suits are in town as they smell power

YOU can always tell when the money people think a change of government might be coming.

They turn up at the conference of the party they believe is on the cusp of power.

So, amid rumours of a snap general election in November, the suits are swarming in the monstrous glass and steel pavilion by the Mersey.

At conferences in the 90s, City slickers queued up to ingratiate themselves ahead of Tony Blair’s landslide victory.

Their lobbying paid off, with a

government that doled out favours to enterprise and bailed out the banks. Under socialist Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, the pickings may not be so rich this time.

But they’re all back. The big accountancy firms, energy companies, the entertainment outfits and the finance bosses.

The networking has gone international. Even Google has a big stand in the vast exhibitors’ hall that looks like Leipzig Trade Fair.

“Pay your taxes!” delegate Kerry Rowberry from Birmingham Edgbaston called out. “They’ve got a cheek coming here,” she told me. “They must have brass balls.”

Chief executives are jostling for attention. Only movers and shakers can go to some gigs, like the financial services and big business party. No constituency riff-raff, please.

Think-tanks, including some with Tory links, with policy options, are plentiful, along with wealthy lobbyists.

The better-off think they will be better off buttering up Shadow ministers who might soon be holding office.

Why else would gas firm Centrica and Royal Mail be here? Both are threatened with nationalisation.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour makes at least one nod towards business. There is an award for the best exhibitor. Pure Mandelson.