Mayor Bill de Blasio to be International Speaker at Labour Party Conference

September 16, 2014

NEW YORK CITY—New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will be the International Speaker at the Labour Party’s Annual Conference in Manchester, England on Wednesday, September 24th.

The Labour Party invited the Mayor to speak to discuss “the twin challenges of rising inequality and declining standards of living,” drawing from his “work in New York and his commitment to tackling the ‘affordability crisis’ affecting ordinary New Yorkers.”  In addition to delivering a speech on the urgent need to develop and execute strategies to tackle income inequality on the final day of the conference—the last before Britain’s General Election in May 2015 – Mayor de Blasio will also hold a private meeting in Manchester with Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party. 

“The fight against income inequality doesn’t stop at a city limit, a state line, or an international border,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “It’s an issue that confronts us all, in every corner of the world, and it demands a unified response. To truly lift up more people, families and communities struggling to make it in tough economic conditions, we must truly have a shared vision, and a shared strategy.”

“There have always been close links between the Labour Party and leading Democrats. But I am particularly pleased that Bill de Blasio has agreed to speak at our pre-election conference this year,” said Leader of the Labour Party Ed Miliband. “I followed his election campaign closely, and I have been impressed by the work he has done since taking office in January for everyday New Yorkers so they can begin to share in, as well as create, a successful future for their great city.  We both recognise we face a generational challenge to ensure that hard work is properly rewarded, that young people get a fair shot in life, and that the cost-of-living crisis for working families is tackled. It is an international challenge for progressive leaders in the United Kingdom, in the United States, and across the developed world. I look forward to meeting the Mayor and to hearing a speech that I know will be one of the highlights of our week in Manchester.”

Additional details will be announced as they become available. U.S. media interested in covering Mayor de Blasio’s speech are encouraged to email the Mayor’s Press Office for logistical information at: pressoffice@cityhall.nyc.gov