The Labour party has signed a deal with OCS, a security firm, for its annual conference in Liverpool, meaning that the event can go ahead.
This follows speculation the conference would be cancelled after another security firm turned down an offer to manage the event.
Iain McNicol, Labour’s General Secretary, said:
“I am happy to announce we have agreed that OCS Group, the existing provider of security services at ACC Liverpool, will deliver security for the Labour Party Conference. We look forward to working together on what will be an excellent event.”
Plans for the conference had been thrown into disarray after Labour’s NEC voted to boycott G4S, which had provided security at Labour conferences for more than 20 years.
The party then became embroiled in a dispute with Showsec, a bidder for the security contract, over the company’s failure to recognise the GMB union for its staff.
Yesterday reports emerged that G4S had turned down a recent approach by the party to steward the event after all.
OCS already provide stewarding at the Liverpool Conference Centre, and they recognise GMB union.