Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), organised a study visit of eight Ukrainian delegates to the United Kingdom. These delegates, representing various Ukrainian political parties and civil society organisations, attended the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool from 22 to 25 September 2024 as well as the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham from 29 September to 2 October 2024. The delegation was split into two groups based on ideological alignment and WFD accompanied the delegation to the Labour Party Conference  

Additionally, a comprehensive two-day programme was organised in London for all delegates to deepen their understanding of how UK political institutions function. This programme included meetings in Westminster Palace, the WFD offices, a local office of the Conservative Party, the headquarters of both the Labour and Conservative parties, and informal discussions with members of the Ukrainian diaspora. To enhance their experience further, Jack Pannell and Ben Paxton from the Institute for Government delivered an engaging briefing on the UK political system and government. 

Insights from UK party conferences 

The participants had valuable opportunities to interact with political party headquarter representatives, constituencies, as well as to attend each party's main event— the annual conferences. These experiences provided a comprehensive insight into how British political parties are organised, revealing how the central, regional, and local levels interact, and how party departments function during and between election cycles.  

At the Labour Party Conference, the delegates experienced a historic moment as it marked the party’s first conference in 15 years with a sitting government. Delegates had the opportunity to network with newly elected MPs and government officials. With over 20,000 participants from around the world, the conference served as a dynamic platform for inclusive policy-making and advocacy. Delegates observed internal voting on party decisions, policy approvals, and election of candidates for leadership positions in the party. 

Halyna Vasylchenko, MP and member of the Ukrainian political party Holos, was impressed with the way the Labour Party used the Conference to develop and articulate their long term strategy.  

"The Labour Party has only recently won the elections, yet they are already communicating long-term promises for the next potential victory," she observed. 

Mariia Pysarenko, from the Ukrainian NGO Center for Policy Making, added, "One standout was the power of messaging, where the 'Change begins' slogan and clearly presented six initial steps were effective tools for communicating the party's commitments. The trip also shed light on the importance of organisation and advance preparation, key factors that enabled the Labour Party to be ready when a snap election was called." Another thing that struck and inspired Pysarenko was the "strong representation of women in leadership across various levels of the Labour Party structure." 

Virginia Dronova, International Secretary of the Ukrainian political party European Solidarity, shared her reflections after attending the UK Conservative Party conference for the first time, where she was part of a delegation led by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). 

“I was impressed and gathered many observations. The Party Congress is not just about party business, it also serves as a space where interest groups and businesses come together, making it a successful fundraising event. It’s more than just a debate club or competition platform; it’s a place for sincere discussions of failures and an in-depth analysis of strengths and weaknesses. I was particularly struck by the impressive number of fringe events, which made excellent use of limited time and space to engage a relevant audience on various issues. I also had valuable meetings at the party’s headquarters, the WFD office, and Parliament, which added new perspectives to the political picture I had before”, says Dronova. 

Study visits like this are crucial for fostering mutual understanding, sharing best practices, and strengthening democratic institutions. By learning firsthand how established democracies function, Ukrainian political actors gained insights that support the growth of resilient and effective political structures. These visits also contribute to building a solid base for Ukraine’s political and institutional development, crucial for the post-war recovery and future democratic enhancement.  

For WFD, organising such study visits is an essential part of our mission to support democracy worldwide. By facilitating these exchanges, WFD helps bridge knowledge gaps, encourage collaboration, and promote democratic values.