25/03/2017 Welsh Labour Party Conference

Labour has been in power in the Assembly for 18 years at how many

councils will control after May's election? Welcome to the Labour

conference 2017. Good afternoon. Welcome to the last of our Spring

party conference programmes. We have brought you coverage of Plaid Cymru,

the Welsh Lib Dems and the Welsh Conservatives. Now it is the Welsh

Labour Party's term. We are on Twitter, where you can see the

latest developments. Joining me with analysis and explanation is our

Welsh affairs editor. We heard Jeremy Corbyn addressing the

conference this morning, Carwyn Jones addressing the conference this

afternoon. How are relations between the two of them? In so far as they

have a relationship. They are putting on a brave public face. This

conference has a slogan, together for Wales, but it is an irony that

Labour has never been less together. What we will see in this conference

though is an attempt to portray a party that is united and delivering

in government and local government. There is papering over the cracks

going on in this conference. Thank you for now. Bringing us news from

outside the conference call is our reporter. She is out in the

sunshine. What are people talking about outside the conference will?

Welcome to a glorious setting here for the Welsh Labour annual

conference. They have been talking about Jeremy Corbyn's speech. We

heard from him earlier this morning and, as well as listing the Welsh

Labour government's achievements, would talk about what Labour Party

in power would do. Posterity he said is unnecessary. Debt and borrowing

are not bad words and should be welcomed. After the Second World

War, the established the NHS, established the modern welfare

system and built council houses. That message was welcomed but there

is very little warmth and the Labour leader amongst his colleagues in

Westminster. Carwyn Jones acknowledges them and says they

cannot be ignored. He has also said that Theresa May's elections will be

tougher Welsh Labour after success in 2012, the last time they were

held. He says that they need to promote the fact that Welsh Labour

is delivering not only in Cardiff Bay but amongst the town hall they

run across the country. The lead 12 out of 22 councils in Wales and

expect to lose ground this time around but are trying to put on a

positive message about what Labour can deliver, and quarter of an hour.

We will be back with James shortly with some of the members there at

the conference. The main event this morning was the UK party leader,

Jeremy Corbyn. He was introduced by Carwyn Jones. As you can see, we are

joined onstage by Jeremy, so without further ado, it is my job to

introduce, to speak, the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you for the introduction today, and thank you for inviting me

here today. The speech we just heard from Emily with the superb and shows

how strong that party is and what good hands it is in in the future

with that generation coming forward. Thank you very much everything you

said this morning. It is a pleasure to be here, but it is tempered with

the sadness about what has happened this week. The events in Westminster

on Wednesday afternoon showed a brutality that one man can reap by

his behaviour. It also showed the humanity, bravery and solidarity

that defines us, and that binds us together in times of darkness and

adversity. Police, security personnel, NHS staff ran towards

danger to put themselves at risk to protect the lives of others. They

are the real heroes that did so much to protect people in London on

Wednesday. I am sure you will all join with me in paying tribute to

the police officer who lost his life. He is somebody the MPs see,

chapter, smile to every day, and he died in the line of duty. We send

our solidarity to his family in this conference here today. And to all

the others who have lost loved ones from all over the world or are

injured from all over the world, we send our love. Our values of unity

and solidarity are needed now more than ever. We know from previous

occasions that some sick people have tried to show division and hate, so

please, look after each other, help one another and think of one

another. Communities must come together in solidarity, not be

divided by those that seek to promote hate and division amongst

us. It is our job to bring people together, and that is what we will

do. I want to say thank you to you and to the Labour Assembly Members

for continuing to show that Labour can make a huge difference in

government. Special mention must also go to mark Crayford, the

Chancellor of the Exchequer for Wales, who is implementing your

programme despite the fact the budget has been cut year-on-year, 6%

in real terms by the end of the decade. That is equivalent to almost

?1.2 billion less for vital public services, a decade of cuts imposed

by the Tories in Westminster. Our Shadow Welsh Secretary, who was

doing a brilliant job, is fighting your corner in the House of Commons,

working with our shadow minister, and I want to thank them both for

the fantastic work they do in speaking up for Wales. It also want

to put on record my thanks to Joe Stephens for all the work she did

when she held the brief. Thank you very much for everything he did. And

Wales has great representation in Westminster. Niall Griffin is, our

Shadow Defence Secretary, who recently accompany me to the

unveiling of the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial, recognising

those who lost their lives in those conflicts. We should always respect

those were sent to fight and risk their lives, and many have paid the

ultimate price for it. I also want to pay warm tribute to our great

Welsh Labour campaigner, leading an excellent campaign for the

children's funeral fund. And what an utter disgrace that, in the budget,

the Tories it ignored the simple and humane demand that parents who

suffer the loss of a child do not have to then worry about the

financial costs of giving them a funeral. I know that Labour councils

such as those in Cardiff and Swansea have already waived fees, as has

Co-op funeral care, but as a time in council budgets are squeezed and

billions are given away in corporate tax cuts, we should be able to just

a bite found ?10 million a year for this very basic, decent, humane

measure. What is wrong with them that they cannot do that? I want to

praise another of my good comrades although it was Kong rate although

he lives in England. He wants to change the system for presumed

consent for organ donation. In Wales, you have done that and lives

are being saved as a result. I was so proud to speak alongside Mark

recently. It was his first speech he made for several months, his first

public engagement since a successful heart transplant, and I am glad that

he is a member of our party. Wellcome, Mark. Deemed consent for

organ donation is one example of the difference that Labour government

makes. The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with the faith

to fight for it and in Wales, you have that faith. Because it is the

only country in the UK to show an improvement in ambulance response

times, improving outcomes for stroke and cancer patients, and the British

Heart Foundation says you are a world leader for cardiac

rehabilitation will stop as NHS budgets are cut in England, the

Welsh Labour government has found an extra ?240 million in the last

budget, taking combined spending on health and social care 6% higher

than that in England. And the Welsh government has achieved so much

more. An social care, you have protected funding and seen delayed

discharges for unlike in England where, under the Tories, they have

risen by over one third. And with the flying start the early years to

help children get the very best start in life. And then, as your

childcare offer of 30 hours a week for working parents, free breakfasts

for primary school children, extra police and community support

officers, record rates of recycling, the second-best of any country in

Europe and the third best in the world, protecting the environment

and reserve in resources for future generations. And when the Tories

abolished the agriculture wages board, the Welsh Labour government

established the advisory panel for Wales to protect the wages of those

working in the farming sector. And on housing, where you are building

homes affected by the Tories cruel bedroom tax, and congratulations to

the Labour council building homes again. I also commend your decision

to end right to buy. When the government in Westminster is only

replacing one council home for every six sold off, then we know what you

are doing is helping the housing situation instead of selling of good

quality housing. There is so much to be proud of in Labour Wales. Even

constrained by cuts, what Labour has achieved in Wales stands as a

beacon, a beacon that shines a light on the Tories abject failure,

socially, economically and morally. The never ending cuts agenda, passed

at the same time giving away ?70 billion in the next six years to the

rich and big business, shows where the priorities lie. Austerity is a

political choice not an economic necessity. Britain's infrastructure

is second rate and falling even further behind other major

economies. This government has an abysmal record. They failed to

modernise the economy, whether in broadband, energy, transport or

housing, and at the same time have not done enough to make finance

available to the innovative small business sector. That is why Labour

is committed to establishing a national investment bank with a

regional investment banks for every region of England. The Labour Party

is working to develop a fair economy that works for everyone. John

McDonnell is travelling around the country in order to bring new

policies and strategies together for a fair economy and society. This

year, the Welsh Labour government has created the development bank for

Wales with its purpose to create and safeguard over 5500 jobs a year by

2022, providing more than ?1 billion of investment support the Welsh

business. This has not come out of the blue. Labour in Wales has almost

two decades of experience of working with small business and local

councils to develop the role of Finance Wales. Our business team at

Westminster will take a keen interest in the launch of the

development bank and the work it does to generate growth and jobs.

Last week, the Prime Minister twice accused me of wanting to bankrupt

Britain by borrowing money to fund investment. But as every business

knows, there is a world of difference between borrowing for

capital spending and borrowing to fund the payroll and day-to-day

trading or service delivery. As any homeowner who has ever had a

mortgage knows, taking on huge debt can save you money in the long run.

We should not be afraid of debt borrowing. At this end of the Second

World War, the Labour government did not say, oh, dear, debt is 250% of

GDP, let's Park those grand ideas of public ownership and National Health

Service, building Council homes or creating the protection of national

security. No, the book the country to be proud of, established the

injured at tuition is made our country fairer, more equal and stop

people being held back the cause of the poverty of whether were born.

The people are being held back today despite the best efforts of the

government here today. Disposable incomes of the lowest in Britain,

energy bills of the highest in Britain, one in four Welsh workers

earns less the living wage, an estimated 90,000 people on several

hours contracts. Those facts are a direct consequence of Tory ideology,

an ideology that believes that our national assets should be sold off

to the highest bidder. That is the only industry that matters, the one

in the City of London's square mile. The trade unions should have the

most restrictive laws anywhere in Europe, that if you cut taxes on the

rich and big business it will trickle down to Arsenal. Remember

that one? And the latest one, that you can cut your way to growth and

prosperity. Well, we reject every one of those tenets of Tory

ideology. We need a political settlement and a new economic

settlement. As we leave the EU, the process starts next week, it is time

for Labour to set out our agenda, our vision for Britain, so our

agenda is about investment so that we support industries, succeed and

create high skill, high pay and high productivity jobs that have been

destroyed in so many communities. The tidal lagoon scheme in Swansea

that our Shadow Business Secretary visited last week, that is an

example of a huge opportunity. To invest, kick-start a whole new

industry that will lead to more investment and more jobs elsewhere

around the UK. To create tens of thousands of

skilled jobs and apprentices is, to help keep the lights on in this

country and meet our energy needs, and to help you carbonised our

economy and to ensure that 60% of our energy comes from the noble

sources by 2020. Stop dithering and act now to invest in all our

futures. We know what happens when the government dithers. We saw it

with the steel industry last year. A foundation industry for our country

and one which must be supported by government secure mid strategy, too.

How can it be that under the Tories, the Ministry of Defence is

commissioning Nordic steel for our defence needs while the Scottish MS

ash SNP. Mid is using Chinese steel for the Forth Bridge. Changing our

economy is also... Changing our economy is also about ownership so

that we all share in the rewards. The privatisation of our utilities

and our industries was the biggest ever redistribution of wealth in

this country to the very richest few. It gave the privatised

industries the green light to hike prices, cut staff, cream off high

profits at our expense and asset strip. Across Europe, energy and

water are being taught into public ownership, whether nationally,

regionally, or locally. And when things are run in public ownership,

the profits don't code to the few wealthy shareholders, they go to us

all. We have to put back minimum standards to, for the labour market,

the housing market, the injustice and the insecurity has to stop. Work

must pay a living wage, a home must be the bedrock of security for

everyone, whether renting, buying or owning. Security at home and

security at work are the foundations of the good life. They will underpin

Labour's promise to the country. The Tories never have and never will

promise that because fundamentally they are on the side of the road

landlord and the bad employer. In Westminster last year, the Tories

voted down a labour amendment to the Housing bill that simply would have

required homes for rent be fit for human habitation. They voted that

down. When Labour councillors ring in landlord licensing, the Tories

oppose it. When Labour brought in the minimum wage, the Tories opposed

it. And they continue to attack trade unions because they know that

unity is strength. They know that by acting collectively, workers can

stand up to bad bosses. Very simply, here are feared things -- here are

three things the Labour permit will do. We will look the homes that

people need to live in, not the investors need to make a profit out

of. Secondly, we will make the minimum wage real living wage of at

least ?10 per hour I20 20. -- by 2020. And we will repeal the Tories

trade union act. And don't think Tories cannot be defeated. We

defeated them when they tried to change tax credits, we defeated them

on police cuts, forced them into a retreat on national insurance

contributions for the self-employed after only a few days. When we stand

up together united, we can and we will defeat them. Our vision is all

the more important as we head into the uncertainty of regs it.

Uncertain because of the recklessness of Boris Johnson, David

Davis and Liam Fox. And uncertain because of the complacency of Teresa

Hammond, Theresa May and Philip Hammond, OK, sorry! Businesses need

reassurance on investment but they also need as the Welsh government

has demanded, for and unfettered access to the single market. The

Foreign Secretary says it will not be apocalyptic to leave the European

Union without appeal, it will be perfectly OK, he says. Tell that to

thought workers at Bridgend, tell that to steal workers at Port

Talbot, tell that to Airbus workers at Gordon. Their jobs depend on our

exports to Europe, to our full and unfettered access to the single

market. I know that our shadow set here Starmer, and our trade

secretary Barry Gardner will be working alongside Carwyn Jones, Mark

and the team, to make sure that labour stands for people's jobs, the

economy, and investment. That is our agenda in negotiations over leaving

the European Union. We are also making very clear that there is a

starting point, European nationals have come to this country and made

their homes here, made an enormous contribution to our health service,

education, and so many other roles in our lives, they should be allowed

to remain here. Give them certainty. Don't put them through the trauma

they are going through at the present time. I have asked our

sister Socialist parties all across the EU to promote exactly the same

for British people living anywhere across the European Union, and do

you know what, they all agreed to support that and are doing their

best to support that within their own parties. They are all working

together for the good of everybody across this continent. That is what

socialism is about. The Labour Party has been most successful when we

have been our most united. Whatever our differences, we all know that

what unites us is so much more and so much stronger. And we know that

our communities need a Labour councillor, a Labour mayor, and a

Labour government. In Wales, this made, we will be defending over 500

seats in 20 -- 92 unitary authorities, and we leave 12 of

those councils, ten outright. I know that Carwyn Jones all manners of the

party in Wales will be united and not only defending the councils but

fighting to make gains, too. Whether it is that the town hall in Cardiff

Bay or at Westminster, Labour being in power means having someone

standing up for you. It is quite simple, United we stand, divided we

fall. And United I believe this great party can do things together

to it cheap for the people that need Labour councils and above all, need

a Labour government and a society based on social justice and

equality, not greed and inequality. Thank you very much for inviting me

here today. Let's get the thoughts of our Welsh

affairs editor on what Jeremy Corbyn had to say this morning. When you

were listening to it this morning, you picked up the fact that he

mentioned a key figure in the Welsh government a couple of times. Yes,

to mention is the Mark Drakeford, once mistakenly referring to him as

the Welsh Chancellor of the Exchequer, I don't know where that

came from. Mark Drakeford is probably the most gullible candidate

on the left of the party when Carwyn Jones chooses to stand down from the

leadership of Welsh Labour. I wonder if Jeremy Corbyn was tried to give

him a leg up, to his image and name recognition by mentioning him and

not mentioning anyone else who is a member of the Welsh government other

than Carwyn Jones himself. Another little thing, it highlights the

problem that some Labour members have with Jeremy Corbyn, they think

he is amateurish and the office he is running is unprofessional.

Referring to Llandudno as being into Denbighshire when it is in the Arras

Conway. That is a tiny slip but it feeds the narrative of Jeremy

Corbyn. Opponents that he is really not up to the job. Other than that,

it was a pretty good speech, pretty boilerplate defence and promotion of

Wallasey is of the Welsh government, talking about the achievements of

the government in Cardiff Bay, no doubt that part had been prepared

for him by the Labour Party in Wales. Very little about Brexit,

though. Without being such a large issue it was amazing he spent so

little time on it. I think we can go over to the conference hall now

where Carwyn Jones is just getting up on stage to give his speech to

conference. Well, conference, thank you for that

welcome. Thank you for your introduction, and nice words, I hope

I can live up to them this afternoon. What an honour it was for

me to listen backstage to Lord Lister Morgan, someone who has been

involved in our movement for so many years, someone who has been involved

in the campaign for devolution so many years. I remember watching him

on TV in 1979, after heavy defeat in the referendum when he said that

they would come the issue would be revisited, those were dark days,

thank you for the work you put in for me to be able to stand here

today. Conference, I would also like to thanks Jeremy for his speech this

morning. It shows he understands Wales and he will fight for our NHS

and campaign alongside us in the local elections in May. I heart felt

thanks to Christina Rees, our new shadow state secretary for Wales,

for the support she has shown me in the her first few weeks in the job.

She used to be my ward councillor and she was unstoppable force then

as I am sure she will be in the future. She is a credit to the front

bench. The last conversation we had before this weekend was a bit sombre

and surreal because I spoke to her on the phone on the day of the

attack in Westminster last week. Chris, along with many other MPs was

locked down in the conference chamber. I guess she was finding out

what was happening by texts and sweets and I wanted to be sure that

she and her colleagues and all our parliamentary Aryan staff and

friends were safe and it was reassuring to find out that was the

case. -- our parliamentarians staff and friends. When it was in the case

for all, many people were treated for injuries, and scores more will

be affected. The Beacon shines as brightly as it does today for the

whole world. The beautiful, bustling living city that will continue to

provide millions with inspiration. London will continue to thrive. Our

parliamentarians will continue to work and argue and compromise and do

their daily best for their constituents and our police and

other emergency services will continue to be on it by everyone of

us in this hall. Can I thank them and ask you to join me in thanking

them for all the work that they do. Also this afternoon, I would like to

mention councillor David Sage who passed away late last night. Some of

you will have known him, some not. He was my election agent for five

elections, dedicated councillor in Bridgend. He was truly dedicated to

his family, and to improving people, lives. He was a true labour storm

water and friend and he will be missed by so many. Dave, rest in

peace. I want to take us back a little,

this time last year. Barack Obama was president of the United States.

Our membership of the EU seemed secure but the fate of our steel

industry seemed uncertain. The Scottish question was settled, at

least a decade, maybe a generation. David camera, remember? He was Prime

Minister. And George Osborne was only doing badly at one job. --

David Cameron. Much of the world had not yet heard the most magical words

in the Welsh language... But we felt the top list assembly election since

the start of devolution. We were predicted to lose and handful of

seats, conversations were happening, we know about the rainbow coalition.

The Tories were cashing in on the strong 2015 showing. When I arrived

at midnight, I agreed to a quick interview with Sky News. First

question, when will you resign? We won an election result I firmly

believe in the context was the best we achieved since devolution and

everything that has happened since in the UK and further afield merely

underlines the strength that when last May. It was a fantastic result.

It owed so much to the hard work you put in as members, the doors you

knocked, the leaflets you delivered, the stories you told your friends

and family. And I thank you for all your efforts? I would like to thank

somebody else. Many of you will know this will be the last conference

that our Welsh Labour general secretary. Over the last six years,

he has served the party with great skill, good humour and, despite his

unfathomable support for Aberdeen football club, he has been an

incredibly popular store award for Welsh Labour. He has had to deliver

59 Labour seats and lost it in particular he marshalled superbly

our resources and brilliant campaign. Thank you for all your

hard work. Let us look back just a little

further. 20 years ago, the Labour Party stood on the verge of a

historic general election landslide. Wales and Scotland stood ready to

embrace devolution power. That was and remains the Labour way. Across

the border, a very interesting contest was underway in Tatton, as

Martin Bell took on one Neil Hamilton. March 1997, Mr Hamilton

was responding to Tory attempts to kick him out by saying, it is

all-out now, I am obliged to retaliate by revealing the deluge of

truth. I'm not sure what happened to him but he is still the valiant

carrier of truth. We created a very firm start for

spending on health and education. It also was important for civil rights

for gays and lesbians. A Labour government, the first for 18 years,

it past the minimum wage and introduced a new deal to get young

people back to work, brought in sure start, tax credits, pension credit,

increased spending on health and education, legislated for civil

partnerships for gay and lesbian couples and delivered the Good

Friday Agreement, bringing lasting peace to Northern Ireland. And that

is what Labour doesn't government, it delivers the people, our people.

And let's never forget that this is the party of working people. The

Tories can never steal that mantle. It was that Labour government that

brought in devolution for Scotland and Wales. 20 years ago this

September, Wales said yes to devolution and voted to have a

National Assembly. It is the only political institution that the

people of Wales have ever voted to have. I was campaigning in my

community for devolution with dark brown hair! That is how long ago

that was. An 18 years ago this May, I was elected to the National

Assembly, proud to be elected from my home constituency. Wales is an

old country but a young democracy. But we have been able to show how

devolution can make a difference. In the years since then, it has made a

difference in our schools, free bus passes for pensioners, foundation

pays for young people and is supported package for students

anywhere in the United Kingdom. And also the organ transplant

legislation. ?1 million of gone into schools. Free school breakfasts,

free bus passes for pensioners, the foundation phase, the most generous

package of support for students anywhere in the UK. As Jeremy said,

a model for organ donation, saving lives will stop ending the right to

buy and of course eight ?2 billion school building programme, that is

what we can do. We will be saying, why all this nostalgia? I have got

to tell you that this week I turned 50. It was a reflective mood. The

older persons commission and was now has an active interest in my

welfare. I have started doing that thing where you have to give

yourself an encouraging, right! Before you stand up. The things you

remember and forget have no real audience of importance. I cannot

quite remember in May 1997 that night but I remember my order at

Bridgend kebabs house. But there is another reason to think back to

because it challenges us to think about the future. That is where we

were 20 years ago but where will we be in 20 years' time? We have got

work to do. Look at the challenges ahead of us in the next three years.

By 2020, we will have experienced a decade of Tory austerity, an ageing

population, an American president more offended by sketches on

Saturday Night Live than the division that cripples his country,

and on top of this managing our exit from the EU, a task that would

dominate so much and take up government time and resource. These

are the battles ahead and we have to ask ourselves, why are we not taking

those battles on more effectively? We have to do better. In 2015, we

lost power. Within weeks, I was there holding a public meeting,

listening to people about why that happened. We took those lessons away

and changed the way we approach assembly elections. In May last

year, Rebecca Evans beat the Tories. Just as Adam Jones smashed the

Tories as well. And Carl Sargeant steam-rollered the Tories as well,

Jane Hart hammered the tourism available Morgan. -- veil of

Glamorgan. I have run out of constituencies and verbs to describe

the performances last year. Every single Tory marginal rent red. That

shows that we cannot hide from the electorate. It is why we are here.

We have been brief enough to hear uncomfortable truths, bold enough to

change our minds, to believe in our values, but they should never be a

comfort blanket or worse straitjacket of finding new ways to

deliver. Will we be happy to tell our children that we exited the

freedom of play, the Brexit changed everything? We decided to leave the

fight to the future in the hands of the SNP? To Tim Farron? No, not on

my watch or an Jeremy's watch. It is because of the membership card in

your pocket. The decision to join this party does not tie you into

personalities. The decision to join this party is a decision about one

simple thing, that we want to make the world the place. That is what it

comes down to. We may explain the idea in different ways, better

schools, the NHS, a cleaner environment, an ethical foreign

policy, safer streets, but it comes down to one thing, the issue of

fairness. We cannot allow the Tories off the hook, that would be

unforgivable. The record is a disgrace, broken promise at the

broken promise. They promised austerity would balance the books

that they are failing to provide the basic helping hand needed to get the

economy growing again. Years of pain for absolutely no gain. Theirs is a

government with no ideas, direction, mandate. This month, we presented a

supplementary budget debate the NHS an extra ?180 million. ?30 million

for affordable housing and ?60 million for a new treatment fund.

That is Labour delivering the people of Wales. And that is a budget that

Ukip applied in the Tories voted against, a budget that would put

more nurses on the wards, more families into homes and secure

faster treatment for patients. Welsh Labour delivering in government. A

week later, Philip Hammond presented the budget, you might have read

about it. It did not go so well. Tories break tax vowel is not the

Telegraph front Page Tory chancellors dream about. Rob the

builder, read another headline. No laughing matter, said that

well-known left-wing organ, the Daily Mail! May force is Hammond in

the budget U-turn. Humiliating fiasco and my personal favourite,

Hammond, egg on his face! You know what they say, if at first you do

not succeed, skydiving probably isn't for you. It would be funny if

it was not so serious. Cameron's gambles the guts out of Europe,

Hammond's fumbles are damaging our economy, made's stumbles are pushing

Scotland towards an exit. I have been dealing with Brexit much longer

than many of you. But for many years, I thought I had heard the

last of that dreaded word but no, so every morning begins with Brexit.

There are important days ahead because on Wednesday, the Prime

Minister will formally signalled the UK's intention to lead the European

Union by triggering the Article 50. I firmly believe we have to get

real. Brexit is happening and we have to respect the will of the

people and we have to make a success of that process. That has been a

mission of the worst government in recent months to our white paper,

bilaterals of the Prime Minister and others, and who visits to Brussels

and beyond. We are making the case for what Wales needs. It centres on

one thing, full and unfettered access to the single market. That

will give our business is the best chance to succeed, allows the secure

growth and prosperity in the future. We all heard the uncertainty that

surrounds Bridgend. Every engine made in that factory is exported to

Europe. Do not tell me that the kind of Brexit negotiations is a dry

academic exercise, it is the difference between good secure work

and an uncertain future for countless families. And that story

is replicated thousands of times over, or crossbow places in Wales,

large and small. I do not pretend we have all the answers but as the

months of ticked by, it is becoming creasing it clear that our

consistent and determined stance on Brexit is having an impact on

transition arrangements, workers' rights and single market access.

That is because we are making a common-sense case for the economic

good of this country. But the UK Government has got to meet the

subway on this, they have got to keep the hard Brexit is locked in

the attic and move into the 21st century because too many in

Whitehall have seen Brexit as an opportunity to turn back the clock

to pre-devolution days, to grab hold of powers they never thought

should've been relinquished. The great reform bill, which you can

turn to as an acronym of the gerbil, will be huge and potentially last

opportunity for the Tory government to prove they understand just what

is at stake. There can be no land grab on Powys. New frameworks on

agriculture, trade and the environment, they must be agreed on

all four governments. The Tories have already gifted the SNP the

advantage to the careless dealings with the UK. For the sake of this

union, they cannot carry on in that direction. For now, we remain

committed to the same process but Wales has to see our engagement

recognised in the final negotiating position.

And there are bigger questions for us to answer for which Frexit has

been a catalyst. -- exit. We have been to defensive. It has long been

my belief that there is nothing more certain of destabilising the union

than trying to hang onto the Status Quo. It is right that Labour must

show leadership on this issue and that is why I am delighted that

Kezia Dugdale and others have agreed to start the RSS of the

constitutional tension that will inject fresh urgency with Labour

leading the way. That work begins next week with the conferencing

Cardiff. The next day, the Prime Minister tries to take us out of the

European Union and we try to imagine what it will liken the future. Let

me say one more thing on the issue of Brexit. It is the way that our

political discourse has changed so markedly. Have we become detached

from some communities we seek to represent? Some people who used to

vote Labour and experience a sense of loss which needs to be addressed.

I want to recommend a book that talks about the experience of

growing up poor. It says, whenever people ask me what I would like to

change about the working class, I saved the feeling that our changes

don't matter. That is a challenge that should speed to us in Wales

just as Mac -- just as much in the States. The re-examination of what

we are about should always be an urgent and ongoing process for a

party of government. But I get deeply concerned when I hear people

party saying we should sideline some of our fundamental principles so

don't anybody tell you that securing might -- rights of minorities is

anything other than the core business of any Labour movement

worthy of the name. Don't let anyone tell you we should be selling our EU

citizens, our friends, neighbours, colleagues, and the river in Brexit

negotiations, don't anybody tell you we should worry less about the

refugee children on our doorstep denied access to shelter by a

cowardly Tory government. Conference, we have fought for the

rights of those children, as we fought for the ones that came before

and we must always lead the fight for those that need our help. And

don't let anyone tell you that our commitment to all women short lists,

gender equality and ending domestic violence against women is anything

other than core business for this party. It is usually important. --

hugely important. And don't let anyone tell you that our friend and

colleague Jo Cox lost her life to anything but an act of political

extremism, violence, and the let that death passed you by. There is

more that unites us than divides us but it is vital for this party to

take that message to the country because our party was founded to

flatten the Judas and inequality and it flourishes when we signed with

modernity and progress and we work to lift up our brothers and sisters

from their struggles. It asked challenge ourselves over what we are

doing. Don't ever surrender the fight for that because look around,

without us, who will take this fight on? And for all these reasons and

more, the Brexit challenge cannot be under rest but of course we know it

cannot cloud everything because we have to deliver for our people. Last

week, I held one of my regular public meetings, this one was in the

Rhondda and it was packed, all ages, all walks of life, but the only

person who mentioned the word Brexit that night was made, twice. The

things people wanted to know about shouldn't surprise you. Jobs, work

for young people, town centres regeneration, isolation and the NHS,

tackling poverty, more and better apprenticeships programmes, and so

it is, everywhere I go in Wales, hundreds of people concerned for

their future, looking for a fair shake of the dice. And what is at

the heart of everything we have been asked for and everything we have

been promised to deliver? It is quite simply fed deal. The Welsh

people are more unreasonable in their demands. -- are not

unreasonable. We will offer a fair deal to the people of this country.

Huge budget cuts handed down by the Tories to Wales mean the financial

context of financial services have changed radically in a short space

of time. Councils face increasing demand but ensuring resources.

Business as usual is no longer an option, we are embracing this

challenge and showing there is a different but fair way. They have

innovated to develop the best services to the people they

represent while ensuring Labour's values of fairness, community, and

social justice are the driving force of that. We saw an energy collected

that helped 4000 households switched to a cheaper energy tariff, saving

money. We are taking advantage of the abolition of the right to buy

and are investing in building houses once again. My own counsel in

Bridgend has invested in new flying start centres in various places.

Hopping over 1000 children and their families. Barry Island has been

transformed, thanks to our Welsh Labour council driving through

ambitious changes. That is the confidence of Welsh councils working

with the Welsh government. Across Wales, Welsh Labour councils are

constantly improving services, giving local people a stake in how

services are delivered, working and collaborating with others to how to

get the best value and solving problems before they are alive -- a

rise. Working in partnership, the Welsh councils and partnerships are

delivering for our children. Our schools are reporting their best

ever exam results. Pupils getting five good GCSEs are up in different

places over the last five years. And the gap between the richest and

poorest children is closing at every key stage. Pupils in the most

deprived areas up performing better and similar pupils and the rest of

the UK. That is what Labour delivers for children. Conference, that is

Welsh Labour delivering a fair deal for our children. Because about

commitment to fairness, I want to mention something else today. The

tenacious and dignified campaign being fought by Carolyn Harris on

funeral costs for children, Karyn has been an example to us all. The

councils and it says that have rallied to York Hall deserved praise

and thanks. -- to your call. The Welsh government will step in and

make sure that burial charges for children will no longer apply in

Welsh communities. It is the right thing to do. It took

Carolyn to shine a light on this issue, so thank you. Not just a

local cup and but in the Welsh Parliament to, and fair deal for

Wales. Brexit or no Brexit, we promised to deliver on our

commitments. In the last Assembly, we created 150,000 jobs, 50,000

people were found work, parallel success stories for Wales. But we

heard the complex from the older population, how can we find new

work, where is our support? We have announced new plans for 100,000 all

age apprenticeships in Wales, a fair deal for all people looking for good

work. And, for me, being in government is about changing

people's lives for the better, by making the services individual,

families and companies find on stronger and more reliable. Over the

next few years, I want to utilise the new powers we are gaining next

year over our railways and bus networks to build a world-class

transport system in Wales, one that is truly integrated, sustainable,

and one that can better connect our communities and our economy. One

that can help to make real our ambition of better jobs closer to

home. Today, I can announce three majors that will make a tangible

difference to passengers on the transport network as a starter that

process. As part of the work to prepare for the new rail franchise

in 2030, we will insure that every train on the Wales and Borders

franchise will be equipped with free Wi-Fi by September this year, free

Wi-Fi to train stations across Wales starting with 50 of the busiest

stations in Wales and to strengthen bus services I am announcing a 12

Mount -- 12 month pilot to make free travel for part of the network. We

will make sure that our transport system is fit for them -- this

century. This is just the start. In health care, we knew the Tory

concept of the Cancer Drugs Fund was unfair. It cost lives. Access to

approved drugs in Wales is fast and our new treatment fund will give

even greater chances to those who need them but we also saw that there

was a postcode lottery on occasion. That worked against people who

needed the most cutting and specialist treatment and drugs. This

week, our Health Secretary Vaughan Gething and announced a new approach

and now people who need it will have access to better life-saving drugs

and treatment as quickly as possible. Conference, we face the

local elections, as many of you have noticed in a few short weeks. But we

shouldn't need a single shred of motivation more than what the Tories

tried to do to the Welsh NHS. They used our health service as a punch

bag in the right wing press, handy distraction from their own

catastrophic mistakes which only now are coming to light. We have never

shied away from an honest assessment of the NHS in Wales and it is the

reports we commission ourselves that give us the hardest lessons and we

are, double with that. But we want the best for patients, we want to

service -- a service fit for the future. No one is more impatient for

improvement than us. At another report shows that Wales is

performing as well as or better than the other health systems in the UK.

How often do we tell ourselves not to be taken in. When it comes to how

we view our own country, we need to be a bit more Cerys Matthews, bit

more optimistic. We owe it to our health care workers to celebrate our

dedication and look at what we are doing, waiting times going down, and

as performers going up, outstripping every other country in the UK. The

average response time to emergency calls is now less than five minutes.

Let's take the opportunity now to thank the Ambulance Service for that

remarkable turnaround. With more and more patients having cardiac

rehabilitation after a heart attack, the British Heart Foundation has

described Wales as a world lever, saving lives. -- world leader.

Improvements in cancer performance, the number of patients treated now

is 40% higher than five years ago and we very know that our record

investment in social services has helped prevent the crisis we are now

seeing in England. Our NHS every day striving to be faster, safer, and

better. And for the fourth successive month, we are getting

people home from hospital faster. We know there is more to do so I am

delighted today to announce a further ?20 million social care to

ease the burden on the NHS, to ensure dignity for old and

vulnerable people and to give staff of up -- the resources they need,

delivering on social careful Wales. -- social care for Wales.

As we do that, we will deliver for our schools and colleges. You know

that education has all been my top priority and that is why I promised

and delivered extra funding for our schools. We protected our classrooms

from Tory cuts. We will do more to secure progress and deliver our

children, an extra ?100 million for our schools, and more money in the

early years to support children from deprived backgrounds, a fair deal

for our children. We know that a major barrier for working parents is

the availability of good quality childcare and this week we announced

pilot projects for the new 30 year scheme that we will deliver for the

whole of our country, a fair deal for working parents. We know that

too many older people have had to face an impossible choice between

pairing for the care and passing something onto their children so

next month the capital limit the people going into care will rise

again and by 2021, it will have doubled to ?50,000. A fair deal for

older people. For small businesses, the Welsh government will provide

more than ?200 million for support in the next financial year,

providing help to more than three quarters of businesses to pay their

rates. Half of small businesses in Wales will pay no business rates at

all. Our scheme is more than match those on offer in England. Our small

businesses, this is a fair deal, for them, their customers and staff. We

are delivering on our promises. People expect a fair deal from Welsh

league Labour and that is what they will get from a Welsh Labour

government. But we know as well how central the economy is to our lives.

I make no apology for putting jobs and growth at the heart of

successive budgets and no apology for putting them at the heart of our

Brexit position either. Unemployment in Wales stands at 4.4%, lower than

the UK average. Lower than London, Scotland and most English regions.

We note that on almost every measure that counts, prosperity, happiness,

well-being, work matters. It would've been easier to grandstand

rail against the unfairness, but we did everything we could to save the

Welsh steel industry. We broke down political barriers, we travelled

from Port Talbot to Downing Street to Mumbai, we did not rest. We

worked tirelessly with our colleagues, MPs names and local

councils and put money up front and challenged others to match our

commitment. When we paint those badges to our lapels, it was not an

empty gesture, it was a mission statement, now Welsh steel is back

on its feet. The Welsh Labour government delivered the future for

steel while the Tories did nothing. And it is because of that that

thousands remain in good well-paid work and communities can plan for

the future once again. It is not just about manufacturing. We created

or safeguarded 6000 jobs as a direct support of the Welsh Labour

government. We created new jobs in Wrexham. But we know that is just

one part of the challenge. Work matters but so does pay, so does

fairness at work and Security and productivity, these are the

challenges that we will take on this assembly term. I want to make Wales

a fair work nation. Where everyone can access better jobs closer to

home, developing skills and careers, where we can all expect decent life

enhancing work without exploitation or poverty, where we all build

prosperity that we all share in that prosperity as well. I can announce

today that next week I will bring together our social partners and

business organisations to discuss the establishment of the work

commission to help us build an economy in which more people can

have access to good work and a secure income. That is what Labour

is all about. Fairness is in everything that we do, a fair deal

for the people of Wales, they deserve nothing less, more and

better jobs closer to home, faster fairer access to life-saving drugs,

more money into our classrooms and more help for the youngest and least

well off, more money for people going into care, the best childcare

offer anywhere in the UK for working parents from today, more funding for

social care, a better deal for commuters and a fair deal at work.

That is the sort of Wales that we were elected to deliver, that is the

sort of Wales but we can be proud to talk about on the doorsteps in May

because as I said before, we are the party of working people and the best

hope for Britain, our people are under pressure. They need this party

now more than ever before, so now is the time to keep on delivering, to

keep on working and should once again that it is Welsh Labour that

is the true party of Wales. A very warm response from delegates in the

conference hall to that speech from the Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn

Jones. He started by referring to events in Westminster earlier this

week and then onto a bit of nostalgia, and referred back over

the use of devolution and what has changed over the years. There was

stuff about ideas, Labour members and how they should not surrender

the fight for good and a few policy announcements and the swell, and

that announcement that burial charges the children will no longer

apply in Welsh communities. What did you make of that speech? That was

Carwyn Jones's seven speech as Labour leader. I would say it was

just about the best. It had a lot of content but something else as well.

The main criticism of Carwyn Jones that people have is that he is

managerial, he lacks vision. But today we saw a vision and we got a

pretty big hint about when he will retire as Welsh Labour leader

because he looked back over his career and said it was because he

had just turned 50, looking back at the start of devolution, and then

over the recent years. He said, what do we have to achieve in the next

three years? Three years takes us to 12 months before the next assembly

election. He did not say between now and the next assembly election. So

he was setting out a programme for that period and putting it in the

context of traditional Labour beliefs and his own personal

beliefs. I think that gave the speech structure and a vision that

at times he lacks, where it is all a bit technocratic. It was different

today and pretty effective as well. It was pretty animated as well, a

few jokes in the. If you are right about that hint, that would take us

to 2020. He has hinted about a decade would be the right time. We

sort of assumed without saying that he would do the same as Rodrick

Morgan, serve a decade and then stand down, so Labour could have a

renewal in office and the new First Minister would have a year to

introduce him or herself to the Welsh public. I do not think he has

ever hinted at it quite as clearly as he did there. I may be reading

too much into the speech though. But there is no other reason for picking

out that three-year time frame. It would've been a four-year time frame

if he was talking about the next elections. That was a fairly clear

hint that that is when he will step down. When he was talking about

Brexit, he was saying there are some in the party that do not want to

accept it, his view was that they have to get on with it now and maybe

offer a more positive vision of the opportunities over the next few

years for Wales will stop did you sense a difference in turn the? I

think he was trying to steer a middle ground. He was not saying, we

should fight Brexit. He said, we have got to accept it. But he was

not going down the route that some the Labour Party feel they have to

go down, which is also to become Ukip light, that they should embrace

social conservatism to try to reach those left behind in communities. He

said, standing up for LGBT rights and women's rights, these are a core

part of his message. You have to accept Brexit but no, we do not

compromise with Ukip views to reach our core supporters. He was trying

to steer that middle ground between the two. As you would expect ahead

of an election, it was a speech focus on rallying the troops, a lot

about what Labour can offer, what members can offer, very focused on

getting them up to the fight ahead. Addressing two sets of troops. He

was saying to be built in the Labour Party who would disillusioned with

Jeremy Corbyn, this is Welsh Labour, this is worth fighting for, but he

was also saying the Jeremy Corbyn's supporters, we are a radical

government. It is not an anti-CORBA night government. You can support us

as well. He was as addressing both as key constituencies. The Welsh

Labour leader and First Minister joins us now. Thank you for

hotfooting it from the conference stage for us. Can I just some of the

things you raised in your speech? Firstly on Brexit, you said your

stance is having an impact. Is the UK Government listening to your view

on Brexit? There are signs of it. We had a meeting last week where there

were signs they were beginning to understand what the challenges are.

They were not trying to prevent Brexit, it is a question of a

sensible Brexit, and that is what we have put forward. You have said in

the run-up to this conference that there was a danger if Wales is not

listened to that that could fuel calls for independence in Wales. Is

that an attempt to give you leveraging those discussions with

Theresa May? What I have said is if this is handled badly and Scots

leave, what is left of the UK? I am somebody who wants the UK to stay

together. In a different format, that is true, but it is hugely

important the impression is not given from Whitehall that it is not

matter whether the UK. At. We want to avoid that. These are difficult

times and people do not want to see more turbulence. They want to seek

government is working together in a sensible way despite their political

differences to get the best outcome for Wales in Britain. You mentioned

the Constitutional Convention you are setting up. To what extent is

Jeremy Corbyn involved in the support of the? He is well aware of

it and supportive of it. We want to bring together English regions to

look at how this would work, what it means for English regions. But to

look at developing a future that would keep the UK together but also

recognise the identities within it. Is it a dry academic exercise? No,

it is all about making sure we continue to have a common purpose

and prosperous future. You also talked about a fair work nation.

Difficult to disagree with the principle of that. But what will it

mean in practice and how you ensure it happens? We know that

unemployment is low, so on one telling of the tail, we are doing

very well. But it is more than that. Too many fine themselves and

insecure jobs, zero hours contracts, maybe two jobs, so we're looking to

establish a commission to deal with these issues because the figures do

not show us. It. I know full well how difficult it is for people to

make ends meet and feel secure. To be worth our salt as a party, we

have to make sure the working people see the party is taking forward

ideas and developing things that would make a positive difference to

their lives. We have brought jobs in and we now need to make sure we

improve job security. What sort of practical things can be changed in

order to reach that aspiration? Look at the way the public sector

operates, working with the private sector because businesses will be

involved, increasing productivity. We know productivity brings better

wages for people. How can we do that through skills and training? We need

to make sure there is more money in people's pockets. You do that by

improving skills in working with them. In doing that, you can make

sure that people have the skills they need to get better employment

closer to home. If we look ahead to the Council elections, you have

already said maybe a warning to members to expect losses in view of

your performance in 2012. It is not very ambitious message to be putting

out the,? The message is we cannot be

complacent. I remember last year being told we would lose loads of

seats, we heard that message, we put in the work, and we were successful

in that election. We did well in 2012. We want to hold the councils

that we have and hold the number of councillors at least that we have

now and today is about making sure people understand that Welsh Labour

is the party, we are on the side of Welsh working people. To what extent

will Jeremy Corbyn been -- playing a part in the campaign? Most of the

campaigns will be local. It'll be about what local councils have

developed livid. Most people say to me, what about the what about the

schools, local services? We will be saying to people, the Labour

councils who have delivered for the people who live in their areas and

for all -- order do that to continue, those Labour councils need

to stay. You have the invite greater the party in Westminster, are you

worried that would cost U-boats the election? Most people don't raise

it. I won't pretend things are marvellous that Westminster or the

card -- parties being united. One of the messages I was emphasising today

is the need for unity. Most people on the doorstep of raising local

issues, they want to know what is gay to happen in schools, in

transport, -- what is going to happen in school,. We are providing

more money in those areas, we want to see those areas improve. If I can

ask you about your ball as First Minister, Labour leader in Wales,

you have said around a decade is the right time to be a leader a decade

is enough time. It is not that far off now, big challenge in the next

couple of years but are you still looking at that sort of timescale? I

was listening to the conversation you were having earlier on about my

future. I'm turning 50 this week but I am not ready to stand down. Back

to Article 50 and Brexit, Article 50 is being triggered on Wednesday, the

same day as you are having your discussions on the Constitutional

Convention, does that with increasing a pressure -- Russia new

to get those messages across about the single market that you want to

get across to the UK Government? I think they are in the same place as

us. They understand we need to get the access to the single market. 67%

of our exports from Wales go abroad or go into the European single

market, the last thing we want is for barriers to be put in place to

make it more expensive for us to sell in those markets to prevent

selling in those markets, that costs Welsh jobs. As we leave the EU, we

have to make sure that access to the single market in the easiest

possible terms is absolutely crucial for the Welsh jobs in future. And

the message from now on, is it going to be a positive message about the

opportunities for Wales after it leaves the European Union? Well, it

is going to happen, we will want to make sure that there is minimal

disruption. It is a big change in many ways, Britain leaving the EU is

a more complicated process than it would have been for Scotland to

leave the UK, though more complicated now. Let's not pretend

it is going to be easy. We want to be in a position that we are a

country where there is investment, because we have access to the

European single market, and to make sure that the UK comes out of this

in the strongest position as well. Carwyn Jones, thank you very much

for joining us. Now with Redford at the top of the border to call

agenda, it is no surprise that the party held a debate if you out of

the goal on securing Wells future after Brexit. It was led by the

Welsh MEP Derek Vaughn. It has been nine months since the Tory

referendum, nine months since David Cameron gamble our future and lost.

The referendum was lost for many different, complex reasons, and you

have heard me speak on those reasons in the past. But be in no doubt that

people will -- were duped by right wing, rich ideologues. Remember what

they said in the referendum campaign, they said the UK sends

?350 million a week to the European Union and that money could be used

for the health service. Both those things were alive and they knew it

was a lie. They said that Turkey was about to join the European Union. 17

million Turks could come to the UK. But, of course, Turkey is probably

further away from joining the European Union than it ever has

been. They said we could have our cake and eat it. They said we could

retain full and free access to the single market and not pay into the

EU budget and still have access to the single market. Of course that

was wrong. Indeed, one of the things that struck me of the last few weeks

and months is the unity of the European Union institutions and the

27 member states. They have all been saying the same thing, they have

said that any deal with the UK must be worth than the UK already has,

they have said there will be no negotiations with the UK until

Article 50 is triggered, and they have stuck rigidly to that. They

have said the UK must pay its liabilities and attitudes have

hardened and that in the last week or so. It could be a figure of

between 20 and 60 billion euros. That will be the bill presented to

the UK at the start of the negotiations. And they said that the

UK must accept freedom of movement, and limbs from the European court of

justice if it wants full and free access to the single market. And the

Labour Party has to accept this, too. The price of access in the

single market is accepting EU rules, including freedom of movement. And

freedom of movement of the thing. It allows millions of our citizens to

travel, to work to learn, to study, and to live right across other

member states. EU citizens put into the UK economy about 2.5 any pounds

a year more than they take out. So it is good for the economy, and it

is good for our health service. There are around 55,000 EU nationals

working in our health service. And when the EU makes its demands of the

UK, it is not being vindictive, it is a fact of life. You can't expect

to leave the club and then retain the same benefits as members of the

club. It just doesn't happen in real life, and it won't happen in this

case. Essentially, the UK Government is saying to the U -- the EU, we

want to leave the single market, we want to leave the customs union, but

we want a free trade agreement with the EU. In the EU is saying, and it

is not a surprise, but isn't that just access to the single market via

the back door? And it is just not going to happen. These views are

also the views of the European Parliament. You remember the final

deal with the UK has to be agreed in a vote by the European Parliament.

Just after Article 50 is triggered next week, the European Parliament

will debate and pass a resolution set -- setting out the position on

the negotiations with the UK. And it will say things very similar to what

the member states are saying, it will say the UK has to pay its

current and future liabilities, any future trade deal with the UK must

be inferior to what we have currently, that EU citizens and UK

citizens must be protected, that the Irish border must be kept open, and

that the UK cannot sign any trade deals with third parties until it

actually leads the European Union. All these things will make the

difficult negotiations when they start. But the EU is determined to

look after its future. It's a wiki is the political integrity of the

EU, not economics. And that is where many UK ministers misunderstand the

situation. Some ministers, I believe, do know it is going to be

difficult, some know it is going to be complex, and they would rather

just walk away from negotiations with no deal rather than face

failure. I believe that up other ultra-Brexiteers in the UK

Government who don't want to deal at all, because they want, as they put

it, a new economic model for the UK. They want the UK to become a tax

haven, they want the UK to become a sweatshop. Free of EU rules on

protecting workers, consumers, and the environment. They want an

absolute and totally free free market. No doubt leaving the

European Union without a deal will mean less money for public services,

it will mean lower pay for our workers, and it will mean less

protection for our workers also. No deal also means reverting to WTO

rules, this means for example 10% tariff on the cars we export. Out of

45% tariffs on our agricultural products. Just imagine the damage

that will do this to our manufacturing industry and the

farming industry. Companies, and they have already started to do

this, I just looking to see where they make their investments, their

investments in the future depend on them having access to the single

market outside of that single market, I fear many of our large

companies will not invest in Wales and the UK after we leave. But for

the hard right, hard Brexit is worth it. To get the free market they

want. Unfortunately, it seems as things stand, but hard Brexit or no

deal at all is where we are heading, unless the Prime Minister and the

government say at the end of negotiations, this is all too

difficult, and we should say -- stay in the EU or the single market but

then they would need to eat a large amount of humble pie if they said

that. Hard Brexit or no deal at all is just not rational it makes no

sense, it would be the greatest act of self harm in the history of our

country. I just hope, conference, that when those problems come, that

our party, the Labour Party, will not be indicated in allowing this to

happen. We know 65% of Labour voters voted to remain in the European

Union and you guv poll at the weekend before last demonstrated

that in the last election, for every vote we have lost two Ukip, we have

lost four or five to the lift them. That is why it is really important

for us as a party that the Welsh government continues as it has done

to argue for full and free access to the single market and continues to

point out the consequences for Wales of a hard Brexit or no deal at all.

Indeed, we may now even have to start preparing for a no deal said

tuition. We need to keep in close contact with our major industries,

the Welsh government and myself are to do this. I can tell you, they are

all fully concerned about tariff and nontariff barriers if we exit the

single market. And we need to look at what we can do to protect workers

from the Tory onslaught which will come, no doubt it will come when we

leave the European Union, and I am sure we are all delighted that the

Welsh government is starting to think about this for the future. I

think we must keep our options open on a public vote at the end of

negotiations. When the economy falls, and it will, and when people

see that the deal on offer from the European Union is much worse than we

have now, it is a chance people will change their minds, and in

democracy, people have the right to change their minds. And if the

public mood does change, then we, as the Labour Party, must be ready to

listen and respond to that change. And indeed it will be our duty to

respond. If the hard right are taking us over a cliff edge which

will trash our economy, take away workers' rights, and break-up the

United Kingdom, then our party from top to bottom must do whatever it

can for a safer future is generations to stop it. That will be

our historic duty. Whether that is by having a proper vote in the UK

Parliament or supporting calls for a second vote on the final deal, that

is what we should do. If that big red Brexit buses going over the

cliff edge, our party should not be pushing it, we should be slamming on

the brakes, that is what our members will demand, that is what our

supporters will expect, and that is what the country will need. Thank

you very much. James? Joining me back at the

conference at two of Welsh Labour's Assembly Members. We have heard from

both Jeremy Corbyn and Carwyn Jones this morning and this afternoon.

Carwyn Jones very much focusing on fairness and what Welsh Labour in

government can deliver. Is that a message that the party is keen to

take out on the doorstep? Definitely, and it builds on the

work last year. This idea that it is opportunity for everybody. In my

patch, we see the flying stop being rolled out. It is about giving those

young children the same opportunities that any child would

have regardless of being born with a silver spoon in their mouth. So for

all the people who are worried about care costs, massive announcement

today. The cracks of what he was saying is that there was a need for

partnership between Labour and local government and Welsh government to

deliver this agenda. It is not happen by accident but because there

is an active Labour government intervening to say, you deserve a

fair deal. Even so, Carwyn Jones expects to lose ground in May. He

has said that but I do not think we should give up on it. We will fight

every council seat. Every council we currently hold will be fighting

hard. But we did exceptionally well last time around so probably he is

reflecting the reality, which is when you achieve so much, it is hard

to uphold that. But we will fight every doorstep to make sure. We

heard from Jeremy Corbyn, who you nominated to become leader. What do

you think of the current state of the party nationally? We have heard

recent rumblings from Tom Watson and unite and all that. The question of

leadership has gone away. The message that has come out here today

is we have to win at all levels of government, including the UK level

well. In fact, they both talked about international cooperation. If

there was an election tomorrow, would you win? I know everybody says

the only poll that counts as the election poll, but whenever that is,

whether that is called by Theresa May for opportunistic reasons, in a

few years' time, Labour has the win that election in the same way is we

need to live when local government elections because nothing will be

delivered outside that. We need to put not just our values but things

like investment in apprenticeships, a development bank for Wales. We can

do that the UK level as well, but only in government. Jeremy and the

party knows that. There is our big challenge. We have to fight to win

the public round. It is Jeremy Corbyn and acid or hindrance? Jeremy

Corbyn is a fair man. People agree with his values. They can relate to

his honesty in politics and people find that refreshing. My colleague

is right that in his speech he referred a lot to what Labour has

done in Wales and has emphasised the difference we make in government,

whether that be in the UK level all Welsh level or local elections. He

said that the party and country should not be afraid of debt and

borrowing, starkly at odds with the conservative movement and the

austerity agenda. Is that something that will resonate on the streets?

What people want to see is the endgame, the result. They want to

know that what is being done will make a difference to our

communities, better investment, better transport infrastructure,

jobs and opportunities. We are very interconnected with the north-west

of England. 20,000 of my constituents travel every day for

work. So it is things that can be done the UK level in England as well

but will make a difference to them. You used to be a Unite officer. I

was not an officer, a member staff. That internal tussle has rid its

head and spilt over into the party recently. Is unite's relationship

with neighbour a problem for the party? Absolutely not. In Wales, we

have seen how unite works in partnership through the Wales TUC to

run things like the agricultural panel, ethical practices concerning

employment. Thank you for your time. Back to you in the studio. All

parties are looking ahead to council elections in over a month's time and

earlier there was a discussion about local government in the conference

hall led by the Cabinet Secretary for local government.

TRANSLATION: Good morning. All elections provide a watershed of one

sort or another. The local government elections in May of this

year present a defining moment in which the flame of Labour Party

leadership is passing and local government level to a new generation

of leaders here in Wales. I want to begin why have say this morning by

paying tribute to those Labour local authority leaders who have made

their own decision not to stand for re-election in 2017. Keith Reynolds

in Caerphilly, Bob Wellington into online... They will all stand down

after years of astonishingly successful service in local

government and share a leading local authority through a period of

persistent and punishing austerity which takes both political courage

and enormous personal commitment. This party owes a debt of gratitude

to each and everyone of those retiring leaders. They have kept the

flame of municipal socialism burning brightly here in Wales and the pass

that on to a great new group of Labour leaders, ready to take our

message to the voters in the weeks ahead.

Aaron Shotton, who you have heard from already, joined now by Anthony

hunting tour vine, Hugh David in Bridgend, and sitting here on the

platform, when ready to reply, a fantastic leader of the great city

of Newport, Debbie Wilcox. No other party in Wales has the enormous pool

of talent which Welsh Labour brings to the vital business of local

government. And we do that because we know that we owe our very best to

all of those who rely on our essential public services every

single day. We owe our very best to all those who work so hard to

provide those services in every part of Wales. And we owe our best to

come together to design a future for local government here in Wales,

which is renewed, resilient and ready for the enormous challenges

which lie ahead. You have heard from our own already. He can be confident

in the message we can take the people in Wales because of what we

have already achieved together. The best ever exam results, the start of

council house building in Wales, the hugely improved recycling rates that

make Wales second in Europe and third across the whole world. At the

Assembly, we will put a trade union Bill in front of the National

Assembly, which rolls back the mean divisive attack on workers' rights

and builds on the social partnership... Our trade union Bill

has been a commitment by Labour at the National Assembly as we went

into the election, it was a commitment that I was able to repeat

here in this hall on behalf of the First Minister at the Wales TUC

conference in May of last year, and it is a bill which builds on the

social partnership which has been such a hallmark of devolution here

in Wales. This morning, I can announce that we will go further

again. Not content with the confrontational gender of the trade

union act, the Tories now threaten to poison the conduct of industrial

relations further by allowing the use of agency workers to break

strike action. I can tell you that, on behalf of Welsh Labour and the

Welsh Labour government, I will lay an amendment to our trade union Bill

to prevent that changing the law and our great public services here in

Wales. And our social partnership model

goes beyond the way in which we work with employers and trade unions. It

shapes the way that, as the labour movement, we have gone about shaping

a shared agenda for local authorities here in Wales. We go

into a's elections united behind a set of proposals which have been

scraped together, committed the dialogue is the collaborative way to

refine those ideas further and rooted always in our shared belief

in the fundamental importance of local government services in the

lives of our fellow citizens. That is the message we take on this hall

and onto the streets the length and breadth of Wales over the coming

weeks. A Labour Party here in Wales united behind our approach to local

government, a Labour Party committed, Labour Party on the side

of all our citizens, a Labour Party that is standing up and fighting

back, a Labour Party that together for Wales is here, and here to win

again in May this year. That was the finance and Local Government

Secretary. Let's go back to Llandudno. James Williams is joined

by a couple of council leaders. No rest for the wicked! Those local

elections a matter of weeks away and I am and the company of two of

Labour's councillors. Carwyn Jones says these are tough elections. Do

you agree with him? Every election is tough. In the context of how well

we did last year, we need to air on the side of caution, but I am being

more and more optimistic as I knocked those doors in Newport where

people are telling me they want to continue with the Labour

administration. It will be tough and I take what is the First Minister

says I am encouraged by what I'm hearing. What do you hear on the

doorstep, then? What is it that people are disappointed by? Is at

the back to have been in power so long? We have not been in power so

long. We came back into power in 2012 Newport where we picked up from

the coalition who took ?10 million out of social services in the first

thing we did was put ?7 million backing so we have shown the people

of Newport the difference and that contrast has been very useful to

say, you want more of that or you want the regeneration of jobs and

services and a Labour led administration with social justice

at the heart? Does Jeremy Corbyn come on the doorstep? People talk to

me about jobs, the economy, good school places, good social services,

council services. This is a local election and the wider context is

not as important to people as their everyday lives. We can turn out to

Anthony Hunt. Carwyn Jones said the Brexit rarely comes up on the

doorstep, it is those local issues, transport, jobs and so on. The

bread-and-butter issues that affect people's lives. That is what they

want councils to deliver on. But to the people of tour vine want

changed? They want good schools, social care that is not falling

apart, investment in their communities. They want their

communities cleaner and greener. The more people see Welsh Labour

delivering on a local level and working with the Welsh government,

the more they will like that. How hard is it to deliver at the moment,

given the stricken financial Times? It is a bit like riding a bicycle

into the gale force winds. The UK Government has put in ?1 billion

less than social services, so it is difficult councils, but Labour

councillors have a great deal of experience in the last five years of

delivering in straitened times and that is what we want to use to move

forwards, to deliver on social schools, cleaner and greener, things

people care about and deliver a fair deer per hour working force. We have

introduced the living wage despite the cuts from Westminster.

If you can manage to deliver, there was the suggestion there was too

much excess before these cuts? I think it shows we have got better in

government. We are dealing with tough objects and I think whereas

Local Government Association to lag behind other parts of the public

sector, now, I think the most streamlined and the best budgeting,

we have to buy Vince are budgets every year and have done it every

year in Torfaen,. We have got good at making those savings but

delivering on the priorities people care most about. Debbie Wilcox,

Carwyn Jones says Rex it hasn't come on the doorstep but it is going to

happen, it is going to change the shape of this country over the next

couple of years, how is that going to affect us? This was David

Cameron's big gamble, who was David Cameron now? Who it will impact is

that trade issue and we have to make sure that Wales has that proper

trade channel to Europe because of we don't, then all sorts of tariffs

will be imposed and you tell that to the workers in fourth Ridge end,, we

need to have that continuity. Is that what the people of Newport want

because they voted to leave? I respect what the people of Newport

have to say, that was not my view more I was a Remainer. It is a

trickle to go over those reasons are now at I respect those views and we

need to move forward and have the best possible deal for the people of

Newport, for the people of the Wales and for the people of the United

Kingdom. Thank you for your time. Back to you in the studio. Thank

you, James. As we know, Jeremy Corbyn addressed the conference this

morning and after he spoke, our political editor caught up with him

and began by asking him what he thinks has changed cos of the events

of the past week. There were a lot of people very frightened of

Wednesday when they saw what was happening, as some did, and of

course the aftermath of it. The police actually worked very

efficiently and very well and everyone was released from

Parliament later on in the evening but there was obviously a concern

because one individual managed to create mayhem and kill people. Would

it change, do you think, the nature of the relationship that elected

politicians have with the public? It has not. -- it must not. I have a

long conversation with the Speaker after the event and said the most

important thing is that our democracy carries on, and that the

relationship between elected representatives and the people they

elect must remain an open and real one because if politicians are

totally cut off from people by an endless security cordon, then the

relationship changes, and I think we have to maintain that relationship.

I realise it has to be managed as a sensible and careful way but the

relationship has to be as open as possible. Moving on to events at

Westminster and divisions between your party, your own deputy Tom

Watson talked about the threat of activists on the left of the party

and we are told he was cheered to the rafters in a meeting with MPs,

is he right? What we have is a very large party, a passionate party, and

a party that wants to win elections in order to deliver to the people of

return. The debates in the party? Of course there are. But we are united

in wanting social justice, in wanting decent houses and decent

wages and an investment led economy and cliff edge approach to Brexit

which the Tory government is taking. Carwyn Jones was talking about

things not being great at Westminster and surely there are

divisions having an impact on the council elections in May. It could

we cost seats. Well, we are united in supporting our council candidates

and supporting our councils. I praised the laboured have met in

Wales for its record on what of those achieved and what our councils

are doing their best to achieve. In Wales, children get breakfast in

primary school, council houses are not being sold off, council houses

are being built, that is good. Quite a detailed analysis of Welsh Labour

policies, there have been efforts for the Welsh party to have more

autonomy, greater freedom to come up with its own policies, where are you

with this? We are discussing autonomy around the country,

devolution issues around the whole of the UK, and obviously,

eventually, the Labour Party must reflect that degree of devolution.

At the moment, we have devolved government in Scotland, Wells, and

Northern Ireland, we don't have any regional devolution in England apart

from the system of London government, we have mayors

established in some places, it is a bit of a piecemeal approach to it by

the mud and we are looking to bring some coherence to that -- by the

government. Are you in favour of what has been called the more edible

structure within the party? I wouldn't go so far as to say federal

structure at this stage but we have a very large membership, an

enthusiastic membership, and they want to contribute. On economic

policy, we set out a framework of investment led economy and the kind

of economy what one to achieve what we are also very aware that we have

fantastic experts in the party so we have now three economic illicit

conferences, one on Merseyside, one in the north-east and one in

Scotland, and they were very successful. They talked about the

industries they want to see developed, green energy jobs, that

is where our inspiration comes from and I am proud to lead the party

that has such a large and well informed and infuse you stick

membership. After all, the best experts in any industry are those

who work in it. Time and time again, people of that to me constituency

member ship has grown enormously and largely thanks to you, a lot of

people would say, the big problem -- problem I have in the party is

getting these huge numbers of members campaigning. Broadly, no one

sees them. I recognise that joining parties of the extent for people,

expressing a political view is a big step, and we want people to be

active within the party, but we also want everyone to be active out there

on the streets during the campaigning work. I'm doing my west,

I'm going all around the country to say to members, William that you are

making this contribution but we have also got to convince others. In

relation to the membership, a successor to Carwyn Jones, should

there be a one member one vote? Let's let the Welsh Labour Party

discuss and decide on this first. I have great respect for the Labour

Party in Wales, an incredible history, and I have great respect

for Carwyn Jones and his achievements at Westminster. Labour

leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking to our political editor earlier. He joins

us live now from the conferencing and at night. You spoke to Jeremy

Corbyn earlier. What did you make of Carwyn Jones' speech? Well, I

suppose anecdotally I think it is a repeat the most relaxed I have seen

him make-up week set peace conference speech in years, possibly

something to do with him just turning 50. In terms of the content,

lots of rhetoric there, lots of Tory bashing which went down well with

the party faithful. He had a bit of money to play with because of the

budget we have just had, ?20 billion to social care, the decision to

abolish the cost of child burial costs, a hugely emotive subject,

that went down very strongly in the conference hall, as you can imagine.

And to an extent, vindication of this campaign for Carolyn Harris,

the Swansea MP, she has led this campaign. Elsewhere, fairly popular

as in relation to transport, free Wi-Fi in a bus stations, train

stations, that kind of thing. We also had really got a great love

detail on this there pay commission, the bigger qubit -- accusation is

that he was to research secret hide with the jobs for people in the

local area without being exploited or subject to poverty, how can

anyone to be disagree with that but he is saying at this stage it will

be talks with the private sector and the TUC to look into this. A few

other big games that were made in which he really took credit for

saving the Welsh steel industry, which is an interesting one. I guess

the kind of thing that will politically go down well, and did go

down well in the conference chamber, on a purely factual perspective I'm

not sure if it is entirely the case. He was pretty bullish about the NHS,

actually, and said that NHS waiting times are coming down, and again in

a statement that we'll get paralysed very strongly indeed because

certainly a lot of the figures out there, if there is any movement,

there is certainly nothing significant to report on that

subject area. On top of all of that, he has the local elections coming

up, and triggering Article 50 next week, two big things on the horizon

for him. That's right. There has been a lot of talk about council

elections, as you can imagine. They are in control of 12 out of 22, a

senior figure has told me if they can keep control of eight or nine,

they would be happy with that they would consider that a good night.

Nick, thank you very much for joining us. Some final thoughts on

the conference. You were struck by that speech by Carwyn Jones, you see

bigger significance? I thought it was one of his better speeches and

it actually gave us some context for this political period we are going

into. What does strike me with all these conference season is, you look

at the size of that conference compared to the previous three,

Labour still is the big hitter in Welsh politics, way ahead of the

other parties, in terms of the membership and the organisation and

so on, and we saw that again. Despite all the travails of the

Labour Party on the UK bases, the grip on Wales is still pretty solid.

You did see that Carwyn Jones is ready trying to infuse the members

and that is a challenge after 18 years in government in the Assembly.

18 years in government and dreadful UK wide opinion polls. It is not fun

being a Labour Party member at the moment. Let's put it in and say, why

would you want to go out on the streets when there is so much

self-inflicted grief, self-indulgence from the MPs, some

of the members see it? He had to try get them out there but I think he

has succeeded in doing that with what was up witty adept speech.

Before the conference, quite a negative approach in managing

expectations about the council elections but a lot more optimistic

in a speech today. Well, you know, there was adamant of spin saying we

are bound to lose ground, there was an element of honesty in it. As Nick

was saying, it is very unlikely that Labour could hold onto everything

they have got, the question is how much did they lose and that is

something we have to benchmark as journalists, in the weeks ahead.

Thank you very much, Vaughan. That is it for today. Sunday Politics

will be on tomorrow. From us today, goodbye.