Live Labour Campaign Conference Election 2017

Theresa May has a clear plan for Brexit and for a better future for

our country. She has the strength and ability needed to see that plan

through. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Prime Minister,

Theresa May. Thank you very much. Today, as we

face this critical election for our country am I launched my manifesto

for Britain's future. A manifesto to see us through Brexit and beyond. A

plan for a stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain. They plan to

seize the opportunities ahead. And to build a country that our children

and grandchildren are proud to call home. It is a detailed programme for

government. Rooted in the hopes and aspirations of ordinary working

people across the land. But it is more than that. It is a vision for

Britain. A portrait of the kind of country I want this nation to be

after Brexit. As we chart our own way in the world. For at this

defining moment for the United Kingdom, as we embark on this

momentous journey for our nation, we have a chance to step back and ask

ourselves what kind of country we want to build together. I believe

that our United Kingdom can emerge from this period of national change

than ever before. I believe we can than ever before. I believe we can

be a country that stands tall in the world and provides leadership on

some of the greatest challenges of our time. And I believe we can and

must take this opportunity to build a great meritocracy here in Britain.

Let me be clear about what that means. It means making Britain a

country where everyone, whatever background, has the chance to go as

far as their talent and hard work will take them. It means making

Britain were not just for the privileged few but for everyone. A

country where it doesn't matter where you were born, what your

accent sounds like, what God you worship, whether you are a man or

woman, gay or straight, or black or white. A country in which all that

matters is the talent you have and how hard you are prepared to work.

And that is the kind of Britain I want us to build together. Because

as we leave the European Union and set ourselves a new course, we need

to make the most of all the talent in this country. For Britain to

succeed, we need to unleash the ability of every person, harnessed

the creativity of every business, support the ambition and

entrepreneurialism in every sector. We need to embrace what is before

us, believing in Britain and the enduring power of the British

spirit. And we need to look forward not back. Believing that despite our

great heritage, we have an even greater future. And that we can

build that brighter future together. It is no doubt that it will not be

easy. Many will Willis to fail. But, with

discipline and focus effort and hard work and above all a unity of

purpose stretching across this precious union of nations from north

to south and east to west, I believe we can and must go forward together.

To do that we need a new contract between government and people. We

need a government that is strong enough to act and humble enough to

listen. Responsive enough to people's needs and stable enough to

get on with the job and deliver. We need to unite behind a clear plan to

make the most of the opportunities ahead. That is what this manifesto

offers a clear plan to meet the big challenges we face together. A

credible, deliverable programme for government around which the country

can unite. A plan that, unlike the offerings of other parties, is

upfront and honest about the scale of the task we face, what we say in

it we will do and the scale of our ambition is clear. Because it is the

responsibility of leadership to be up front and straight with people

about the challenges ahead about the difficult decisions and trade-offs

that need to be made. And the hard work required to overcome the

obstacles in Norway. That is what this manifesto does. -- with the

obstacles in our way. It identifies the five great challenges that we

a strong economy, too, responding to a strong economy, too, responding to

Brexit and a changing world, three, tackling enjoying social division,

fore, responding to an ageing society, and five, facing up to fast

changing technology. It sets out what we will do to address each one.

And in doing so it offers a vision for Britain in the years and decades

ahead, a stronger Britain where everyone has the economic security

they need to and the chance to live a secure and full life. And more

prosperous Britain where each prosperous Britain where each

generation can do better than the last. But, all of this depends on

getting the next five years right. Make no mistake, the central

challenge we face as negotiating the best deal for Britain in Europe. Our

future prosperity, our place in the world, standard of living, the

opportunities we want our children and our children's children, each

and everyone depends on having the strongest possible hand as we enter

the negotiations in order to get the best Brexit deal but families across

the country. If we fail, the consequences for Britain and for the

economic security of ordinary working people will be dire. If we

succeed the opportunities ahead others are great. I have negotiated

but Britain in Europe and I know the best place to start is to be clear

about where you stand on what you want. That is why I have been clear

that we do not seek to forge this issue, to be harping in and half out

the newcomer the British people made their choice, I respect that. -- to

be half in and half out. I respect the view of the other European

leaders who agree. So, we will leave the European Union and take control

of our money, our borders, pig control of our laws. We will forge a

new deep and special partnership with Europe. -- pig control of our

laws. We will strike new deals with old allies and new friends around

the world, as well. We will make the decisions that matter to Britain,

here in Britain. And be a great global trading nation stands tall in

the world once again. If we get Brexit right, we will use this

moment of change to bring a stronger, the more prosperous

Britain here at home. That is the real prize, the gold towards which

we must work. The too many people in Britain today, life is simply much

harder than many seem to think all realise. They are not ideological,

they do not buy into grand visions, they aren't fools by politicians who

promise the earth but claim notes hot choices are required. They make

this choice is every day in the own lives. -- book claim no tough

choices are required. They understand the politicians much do

the same. They do not ask for much, they just want to get on with their

lives and do the best the children and be given the chance. They look

to the government for and support. This party, the conservative and

Unionist party will be that government. For while it is never

true that government has all the answers, government put squarely at

the service of ordinary working people, can and should be a force

for good. A force that steps up and at in the interests of ordinary

working people, that does not ignore the more walk unlike on the other

side, but serves the interests of the mainstream of the British

public. With the right Brexit deal secured, my mainstream government

will deliver for mainstream Britain. All those who work hard and make

this country what it is, people who have the job but don't always have

job security, people that own the home but worry about paying the

mortgage, people that can just about manage, but worry about the cost of

living in getting their children into a good school. That is why the

government I leave that will ensure that every area of this United

Kingdom is able to prosper with a modern industrial strategy to spread

opportunity across the whole country. Why the government I lead

will build a Britain in which work pays, with a higher national living

wage and proper rights and protection at work, whether

government I lead keep taxes low and cap with an energy tariffs to help

families who were working or the hours they can to pay the bills, why

we will help those struggling to afford a home of their own to afford

more affordable homes. It is why the government I lead will build a

Britain with a strong economy to support world-class public services,

with the most ambitious programme of investment in technologies and

building that the NHS has ever seen. Record and fair funding the schools

real technical education for young people and the first-ever proper

plan to pay for and provide social care. Because, strong public

services do not just provide security and enhance opportunity

they are bike tour local and national institutions that Pringles

altogether. -- they are vital local and national institutions. That

Pringles altogether. For injustice is a scar on the soul

of our nation and I will fight it where ever it is found, so for

example, we will introduce the first new mental health Bill the 30 years

to put parity of esteem at the heart of treatment and end the stigma of

mental illness once and for all. But, most important of all, the

government I lead will provide strong and stable leadership to see

us through Brexit and beyond, tackling the long-term challenges we

face and ensuring everyone in our country has the chance to get on in

life. We need that strong and stable leadership now more than ever. For

the next five years will be among the most challenging in our

lifetime, a defining period for our nation, a turning point for Britain

that will determine the kind of country we are and the kind of

future generations that come afterwards will see. That is why now

more than ever put in need strong and stable government, wine now more

than ever Britain need strong leadership to make the most of the

opportunities Brexit will bring, now more than ever Britain needs a clear

plan and the determination and the will to see it through. And it is

why in this election, more than any before it is time to put the old

tribal politics behind us and to come together in the national

interest United in our desire to make a success of Brexit, united in

our desire to get the right result for Britain because every vote from

me and my team in the selection will strengthen my hand in the

negotiations to calm, every vote for me and my team will be a vote to get

on with the job of delivering Brexit and delivering a strong animosity or

future for all. Every vote for me and my team will be a vote for a

stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain and after all that is passed

that is a vision of the future that can bring us together. So, I offer

myself as your Prime Minister with a resolute determination to get on

with the job of delivering Brexit, optimism that I can get a deal that

works for all and confident in the belief that we have the vision, the

plan and the will to use this moment to build a better Britain, with the

right deal for Britain abroad is taking back control of our borders,

our money and our laws, and a better deal for ordinary working people at

home will stop a modern industrial strategy to spread prosperity around

the country, exploiting the opportunities of technology to

attract the jobs of the future to Britain, relief and family energy

bills and the cost of living, more secure well paid jobs and new

protections for workers, the chance to own a home and more affordable

housing, a good school place every child with more money for schools

every year. A strong economy to fund our NHS and give you the security

you need, a stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain that works for

everyone not just a privilege you, that is the goal, that is the plan

and now is the time. So, join me on this journey come with me as I lead

Britain, strengthen my hand as I eyed the Britain and stand with me

as I deliver for Britain and with confidence in ourselves and the

unity of purpose in our country let us all go forward to get the.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

Thank you. Now, I apologise because I see the media the back of the

room. Laura's thank you Prime Minister, BBC News, you are ditching

much of the manifesto that you in your party stood on just two years

ago. More families, including traditional Tory voters will have to

pay more for elderly care, many families will lose heart mills for

the children at school just a time when people are feeling the pinch.

-- lose hot meals. You're pushing back balancing the books and

immigration proposals might cost billions to the economy. When you

put that altogether would in some voters be quite entitled to conclude

that adds up to quite a bleak picture that you are putting

forward? No, not at all what I'm putting forward is a vision for

opportunity and prosperity across the whole of the country for the

future, I've been clear there are some hard choices but active that is

what strong and stable government and leadership is about, making sure

we are honest with the public about the hard choices, but if you look at

what we're doing for the first time ever we have a proper long-term plan

for social care to ensure that all people have dignity in old age, but

a plan that is further across the generations, yes, ensuring we are

putting more money into our schools and giving every primary school

child a breakfast before they start the school day, to set the school

day off as well. In showing that we're putting more money into our

NHS which is the biggest ever investment in technology and

buildings in our national Health Service. But, you can only do that

if we have a strong economy and having a strong economy is central

to what we as conservatives do implement and to do that we also

need to make sure it we get the Brexit negotiations right, so having

that right leadership to take us in with a strong hand in the

negotiations is so important and that is why I said every vote for me

and my team will strengthen my hand in those Brexit negotiations to get

the best double Britain. -- to get the best deal for Britain. Sky News,

Prime Minister in the manifesto on page 36 you repeat we continue to

believe that note deal is better than a bad deal for the UK, is this

document a mandate but no deal? Are voters who vote for you except in

that a possibility within the five years is that there could be no

deal, and if that not the definition of potential chaos? This is a

manifesto, this manifesto is a mandate and this election I want to

give a mandate to a strong hand in the negotiations to get the best

possible deal by the UK and by that I mean the best possible deal that

everybody the United Kingdom, but to do that we need a strong hand in the

negotiations and that is why as I said, every vote for me and my team

is about that will strengthen my hand in those Brexit negotiations,

we want to get the best double Britain, we want a deal that works

every part of the United Kingdom and that is what we are determined to

do. Did I see Andy Bell? Thank you very much, Andy Bell, Channel five

news. Do you except under your social collapse plan that the

majority of people currently receiving care in their own homes

will end up worse off under your plaid? -- do you except under your

social care plan. Aren't you turning your back a bit on the traditional

Middle England that is put the Conservatives into power because you

think you can find votes elsewhere? This is the first time that we have

seen a proper long-term plan for the sustainability and social care in

this country. We face a great challenge of an ageing population

and it is right that anybody who wants to be Prime Minister faces up

to that challenge and set it out clearly the people. What will we see

we're making, we will see that those we're making, we will see that those

elderly people who've been worried about how they pay the care in the

home will not have to worry about that in the future, they will not

have to pay while they are still alive, they wait to sell the home

while they are living in it, what we also see his that those people who

are worried that the savings, who have done the right thing and say to

the life and worried the savings will dwindle to wretchedly nothing,

we are quadrupling the threshold at which assets will be... What else do

experts see from this? I expect to see action and improvement in the

quality of social care that is available to people, expect people

to be able to stay in their own homes longer, and that will mean

less pressure on the NHS. I think I saw Gary... You said you wanted to

be straight, can I just ask you following on from the previous

question, everyone says there was a cart to getting net migration down,

is it in billions? You said you wanted, throughout the manifesto,

close injustice gaps, is there not a danger you are creating a whole new

one between children of slightly better off parents who may be die of

a heart attack or are treated for a medical condition, and slightly

better of children of someone who has dementia? It looks like they get

very different treatment under a Theresa May government under these

plans. Throughout the manifesto, you give this is a hard time, energy

companies with big names have slightly conned the customers,

housing builders have been building quality houses, you say, do you

think the Conservatives over the years have got to cosy with business

and business has been too greedy? Festival, you put right a few issues

in that question I have to say. LAUGHTER I think that was more than

the one question which most people are asking. Just pick up on the

immigration issue, I think it is right that we want to bring net

migration to sustainable levels, in the tens of thousands, because of

the impact that that uncontrolled migration has on people,

particularly at the lower end of the income scale because it can hold

down people's wages, it can mean a displacement of jobs, it puts

pressure also on public services. What we are saying is that yes we

want to increase the skilled charge, but that is because then that money

can be put into ensuring that people here are being trained up to be able

to take the jobs, I want to see people here having the skills to

take on these jobs while we still have a system that brings the

brightest and the best into the United Kingdom, and that is exactly

what we will be doing. In terms of the question of business I think, we

absolutely, clearly, said Al in the manifesto the key thing that we want

to do the business which is to ensure that we have that strong

economy and we want to be the best place for businesses to be set up,

to grow, and to provide those jobs and investment here in the United

Kingdom, but we do believe in responsible business. I think if you

talk to business people they will also say that it is better to have

an engaged workforce that is a content workforce that increases and

improved productivity, and that is why think it is right to say that we

need to ensure that workers have proper protections, but we do also

want to insure that we set that economic framework in which business

creates jobs. Since 2010, two .9 million jobs have been created, we

see employment at record levels, employment higher now than it has

been since records began and unemployment lower than it has been

since the mid-19 70s. That is what a strong economy can do and to build

on that the future. Is the area? Prime Minister, and you trying to

redefine what it means to be a conservative? And your critics on

social care who say your child implementer to tax, what would be

your reason? -- who say you are trying to implement a death tax.

This is a real challenge to implement a proper plan on social

care, it's been blocked by governments are too long, we are

prepared to stand up to that challenge and put forward this plan

which, as I say, will protect higher level of assets than is currently

protected for individuals, it will take away the worry from people

about how they will pay for the care whether the savings would be

depleted to virtually nothing and I think it will lead to an improvement

in social care. What we believe in is, yes, insuring we are providing a

system that provides people with dignity in their old age, but doing

it in a way that is the across the generations. I think the Guardian is

here. There's a microphone coming to you. Hello. You are going to means

test the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, replace the triple lock

guarantee on the basic state pension with a less generous double lock,

and wealthy pensioners will have to pay more for the clay include links

the at home... -- more for the care including care at home. Are you

being honest with pensioners that they have to bear more of the costs

of the best society you are talking about? If you access look at the

manifesto when we set out what we're doing in relation to the pensions

triple lock we make the point that that was introduced at the time when

there was a significant disparity in relationship to pensioner's incomes

now what we see as a result of the changes that have been made, an

increase of ?1250 a year and some older people worry about axe to the

is now a disparaging for the younger generation and would they be better

off in the future? Pensions will continue to go up, we will have a

double lock, which will ensure the pensions will go up either at the

rate of average earnings or inflation, which ever is housed of

pensioners will continue to be protected against rising prices. But

it is important that we ensure that changes that come in are changes

that are fair across the generations. Tom? Prime Minister,

from The Sun, you are taking money off which pensioners and giving it

support young families, you delight in using the power of big government

to beat up on UL issuing traditional right wing Tory dogma like

libertarianism, do you accept you are moving to the political centre

ground and are you proud of your new monkey, a red Tory? -- your new

moniker and red Tory? The Conservative Party has always been

on the central ground, we believe in managing the economy, spending tax

payers money responsibly, encouraging business to create

high-paid jobs, we went to see a good school place for every child so

that young people get the best possible start in life, we want to

ensure we get the economy to bond the support in public services do

the NHS and other services, these are all good principles underpinning

conservativism and continued to. Crucially, we want to give people

opportunity and inchoate aspiration, we want people to know that in

Britain on debt a Conservative government how far you go in life

depends on you, your talents and your hard work, not where you came

from. APPLAUSE

I think, did ICJ should? From the mail -- did ICJ said?

Would you expect those in your party and the House of Lords, and can I

ask, the theme of the day, do you consider yourself a Thatcherite? On

the question of the single market, what we want is a comprehensive free

trade agreement with the European Union which is about having good, as

tariff free and frictionless access to the single market but you can't

be a member of the single market without effectively still being a

member of the European Union. The British people have been clear that

we should leave the European Union. We will be leaving the EU and

negotiating the best deal we can. We will still cooperate with the

European Union on many issues and on trade, we want that competence of

free trade agreement that will be good for businesses here in the

United Kingdom and good for jobs and ordinary working families here in

the United Kingdom. Margaret Thatcher was a conservative, I'm a

conservative, this is a Conservative manifesto. I think I saw Ben. You

are elected in 2010 and 2015 on reducing immigration by the

thousands, you are Home Secretary between 2010 and 2016 and you didn't

meet that pledge, why should you believe it today? I was working on

this for six years as Home Secretary. The figures are starting

to come down again. There is no single thing you can do in relation

to the net migration figures that will make all the difference. You

need to work at this issue constantly. We need rules where we

have not had the opportunity to use them before. I have explained why I

think it is important that migration should be at sustainable levels

because uncontrolled immigration has an impact on people and public

services and also on people, particularly at the lower end of the

income scale. Suppressing wages and sometimes displacing jobs. That is

why it is important we maintain that commitment and continue to work on

it. I handed just went up at the back. Louise Adamson. I wanted to

ask what this manifesto says about you personally and you'll political

philosophy? I think it tells me that I'm a good conservative. And it

tells you that I believe in ensuring we have a strong economy and we have

good public services and opportunities for all. That is

crucial, I want to see Britain as a global Britain standing tall in the

world, trading around the world and taking our place in the world but

also a Britain where people in this country know how far they go depends

on them and their hard work and talents. Was that Paul I saw

somewhere? Prime Minister, Halifax voted 55%

leave and like many seats, Labour seats you are targeting in this

election, if you win the seats, those new MPs and voters will want

to hold your feet to the fire to get a firm Brexit? If that is the case,

isn't David Cameron deluded to think that the greater the majority, the

greater the chance of a soft exit? Iden took about soft or hard Brexit,

I want the right deal for Britain. That is what we are going to do. I

don't know if we can get a microphone upfront here. You have

been asked repeatedly in the campaign about taxes on higher

earners and you have always answered wait for the manifesto, the

manifesto doesn't really have any detail about what taxes they might

face or if they will face increases in national insurance. You are

asking higher earners to vote for you without knowing what kind of

attack rates -- tax rates they might be paying, what do you say to them

now the manifesto is out? To earners across the board, when they vote at

the election, they have a clear choice. The clear choice is between

a Conservative Party that has always been and always will be a low tax

party and in government is to reduce taxes on businesses and working

families and a Labour Party whose national instinct is to increase

taxes. What we saw from the Labour manifesto this week, with costing

that didn't seem to be worth the paper it was written on, is that

ordinary working families will pay the price of labour. They will get

lower wages and higher taxes and fewer jobs. Ordinary working people

will pay the price of labour. My last question here. Picking up on

Jason Groves's questions, it is occasionally said it is difficult to

define what is meant by May is. But it says you reject the cold of self

individualism and regard rigid dogma and ideology dangerous, that's as

like a rejection of Thatcherism, is it rejection and are you personally

rejecting the comparisons between you and Margaret Thatcher? There is

no May is. I know you like to write about it. There is good solid

conservatism. Which puts the interests of the country and

ordinary working people at the heart of everything we do in government.

Thank you. This is a constituency of enormous

importance to the future of the United Kingdom. The election on the

8th of June is going to be about what kind of country we are. Are we

to imagine on the 9th of June how things might be for places like

this? If Therese of May records the kind of landslide victory that

Margaret Thatcher recorded in the 1980s. Imagine what that might mean

for our hospitals and schools and imagine especially what it might

mean for our older people. On this day of all days, we will discover if

you or your loved one has dementia, Theresa May is coming for you. A

dementia tax on people around this country is utterly heartless and

born out of the fact that Theresa May assumes that the election is

already won. We look at what happens to health and social care in this

country and the Liberal Democrats are being honest with you, will if

we want the best health and social care in the world, we will have to

pay for it. We will ask each of you to put a penny on income tax to pay

for the best health and social care anywhere. Something you can rely on

for your future. On the 9th of June, there will still be plans by the end

of this academic year for two out of three headteachers in this country

to sack at least one teacher by the beginning of the new term. Theresa

May has no doubt, she is planning to do with schools as she is already

doing with hospitals. That is why winning here is so important. If

Theresa May wins with a land slide, she will assume she has a mandate

for the dementia tax and the hospital cuts and to take out

teachers from our schools. If you want to make sure you are not taken

for granted, you must vote for the Liberal Democrats. It went very

well. The opportunity to set out to the country that we don't need to

accept the bleak direction that the extreme version of Brexit will lead

towards for our children. It is an opportunity to challenge the Prime

Minister, she called this election and then chose not to turn up, that

shows a complete lack of respect for the people she is expecting to put

her back in number ten. I was pleased to set out my case that the

Britain I love is not lost yet. If you believe the people should have

the final say on the Brexit deal, the Liberal Democrats are for you.

Your message has been about the dangers of a hard Brexit, you

haven't had the Lib Dem fightback you promise, will that change? We

have three weeks where many people have felt that given that Jeremy

Corbyn and Labour have just gone on with Theresa May's plan for an

extreme version of Brexit, the UK provision, that all is lost. The

Liberal Democrats are giving fresh hope that things can end differently

and that if you believe you should have the final say on the referendum

and the Brexit deal and not the politicians, the Liberal Democrats

are your only hope. How do you defend it to people to say they are

being penalised? People on higher tax rates and receiving benefits, it

is right when you are trying to balance the books that you look at

those payments and see if you can spend them differently. The

Conservative plans elsewhere are utterly heartless. The ending of the

triple lock and the pension guarantee, the Liberal Democrats

brought that to government, it means the poorest paid pensioners will end

up back in poverty thanks to Theresa May. Even worse than that, is the

dementia tax that Theresa May is introducing. What she is now

proposing is that if your husband has dementia and has to go into a

nursing home, your family home will have to be cashed in to pay for it.

If you have dementia or one of your loved ones does, trees make this

coming for you. We must fight against it, the Liberal Democrats

are absolutely to term and to keep a cap what it costs. The 2017 general

election is in front of us. We have the key speeches from the main

players in full and uncut. As well as the big campaign events. Don't

miss the big moments. Pure politics from the UK's only dedicated

politics channel. A couple of weeks ago in Kidlington

near Oxford, I met a bloke called Malcolm. He started shouting at me

in that it. You might have seen it on the news or the Internet. In the

end, we actually got a long but he was angry with me for not getting

behind Theresa May and backing Brexit. I think I calmed him down a

bit when we spoke. But I'm fairly sure I didn't change his mind. And

that is fine. When the referendum took place last year, I campaigned

harder than anyone else to remain. I believe passionately that our

children would have a brighter future in Britain if Britain

remained in the European Union. But we lost and I accept that. But that

does not mean that I have changed what I believe. I believe that our

children will have a brighter picture if we are inside the

European Union. That they will be safer and better off. Our economy

will be stronger and our country will have more influence in the

world. At just because I believe that doesn't mean I think that

people who voted to leave are bad people. Of course they are not. We

just disagree. I grew up in Preston, Lancashire. Most folks impressed and

voted to leave. There are parts of Lancashire where two thirds of the

people voted to leave. Friends of mine did. Members of my family did.

They won't admit it to me. But I know that they did because you told

my sister, didn't you? These feeble, they are my people. I love those

people. They are good people. They are decent people. And as it

happens, I liked Malcolm as well, once he stopped shouting at me. But

here is the difference between me and Theresa May. I want Malcolm, and

everyone here in Preston, every single one of you, to have your say

over what comes next. Nobody knows what exit will look like. The choice

Theresa May will make will affect your life and the country for

decades. Your shop, your weekly shopping, your job, your

environment, your safety, where you can travel and where you can live

and she is already making choices that will affect those things.

Including the most profound choice she could make, taking Britain out

of the single market. That decision alone is a time bomb

under our economy and it will low up taking art schools with it. It will

wreck of Huh is a choice, hedgerows, plain and simple. It was not

inevitable there was nothing on the ballot paper last year that said we

were choosing to pull out of the single market. There were other

people that our outside of the EU and in the single market. Norway and

Switzerland. There was nothing on that ballot paper that said that

people from Europe to have made this country the home will be left in

limbo not knowing if they can stay in the country they respect kitchen.

There was nothing on the ballot paper that said we were ten friends,

art neighbours, our allies into enemies and yet here we are with our

government making accusations with our neighbours and even threatening

wall of Spain. The choices Theresa May makes and the compromises she

negotiate with the bureaucrats in Brussels will affect our children's

future the decades to come. My children, your children, Malcolm's

grandchildren, in June that year we voted for a departure but we did not

vote for a destination. I want you to have your choice over your

future. APPLAUSE

Someone, someone, it is really obvious when you think about it,

someone is going to have the final say over the final Brexit deal. It

could be the politicians all it could be the people, I believe it

must be the people. CHEERING

You, you, should have the say over whether Theresa May's Brexit deal is

right for you, right for your family in a referendum, and if you do not

like that feel you should have a choice to remain in the European

Union. CHEERING

Giving you the choice over your future is exactly what our manifesto

is all about, I'd want you to change Britain's future, I want you to

imagine a brighter's future, imagine a future where our children can grow

up in a country where people are decent to each other, well we have

good schools and hospitals where we take the challenge of climate change

seriously, where we give our teachers and nurses and soldiers,

the pay rise they deserve for the service they give for our country

where they have an open, innovative economy where we treat the poorest

and most honourable with compassion. Where we do not turn our back on

desperate refugees, that is the Britain I love...

CHEERING The Britain I want to lead.

But, that is not the Britain, that is not the future that Theresa May

is offering due. If you want to know the most revealing thing that has

been set to join the selection, just look at Nigel Farage's twitter, not

too often but look at it just this once. To Theresa May, in his very

words, Theresa May is using the exact words and phrases I've been

using for 20 years. Now, think of outback for a minute. Nature branch

says the exact words and phrases the Prime Minister of our country saying

the same things that Nigel Farage has been saying for 20 years. --

Nigel Farage says the exact words and phrases. Not just words but

policies, as well. That is what Ukip MEP said this week. Brexit never did

just mean Brexit, the Nigel Farage it was always part of the package, a

worldview. It is a worldview that include shunning climate change,

shrinking the state-by-state being our schools and our NHS underfunding

that they need, it includes turning up accidents are the poorest and

Theresa May did when she shamefully Theresa May did when she shamefully

closed the door and desperate child refugees. That is Nigel Farage's

worldview, the same one that leads to Donald Trump banning Muslims and

building a wall, the same one that Marine Le Pen tried to impose on the

decent people of France, Nigel Farage's vision for Britain is now

Theresa May's. He has taken over the Conservative Party, and Europe, anti

the Bee Gees, slashing funding to schools and hospitals, no wonder

Ukip. -- anti-refugees. Who needs Ukip if the Tory government is doing

what they want anyway. Somebody has to stand up to them, somebody has to

fight for the decent compassionate Britain that we love, but it will

not be Jeremy Corbyn, on the biggest issue, facing us all, for a

generation when all of this is that staked Jeremy Corbyn's Labour hasn't

even shown up. Jeremy Corbyn ordered his MPs and his Lords to go into the

lobbies and vote with the Tories and Ukip, not against them, with them,

before the vote and Article 50. He said he would order his party to

vote in favour of, even if the government made no concessions to

them whatsoever. So, surprise surprise, they made no concessions,

whatsoever, Jeremy Corbyn did not need to do that he could have voted

with us to stay in the single market or to give European citizens living

here the right to stay, he chose not to Jeremy Corbyn and labour chose

not to. Now, Jeremy Corbyn has always been pro-Brexit, he

campaigned against Europe for years so we should not be surprise, but we

should be bitterly disappointed. APPLAUSE

Labour are supposed to be... APPLAUSE

Labour are supposed to be the opposition but they have not posed

anything, they are supposed to stand up working people but they have not

stood up anyone. They are supposed to care our children's future but

they are letting the Conservatives wreck it. They have lost the right

to call themselves the opposition. APPLAUSE

Labour has lost its purpose, but we have found ours. The brighter future

we want for all our children is at stake, our economy is at stake, our

schools and our hospitals are at stake. This is about the future of

the open, tolerant, united front with that we love. I am here tonight

to tell you that we will not roll over, a few weeks ago in France the

two parties that had run the country together for decades came third and

fifth, third and fifth! The decent people of France decided they did

not want to simply accept one of the two tired old parties so they

rejected them and when the two old establishment parties had been

eliminated the decent people of France faced a stark choice, a

liberal, pro-European candidate who believes in open, tolerant and

united France versus the leader of the National front. Hope versus

fear, a brighter future versus a cold, mean-spirited one, Nigel

Farage hint his colours to the mast. When he backs Trump he backed

anti-Europe, anti-refugee, he backed the National front, when the

National Front lost. Do not let anybody tell you that the only

choice you have in this election is between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa

May. This election is your choice about your future, it is about your

future and you can choose a brighter future where our children grow up in

a country where people are decent to each other, where the we have good

schools and hospitals so that our children have a fair chance in life

and our elderly are treated with dignity. Where we have a clean

environment and innovative economy, the more liberal Democrat MPs you

will act, the better deal will get on your work, the more Liberal

Democrat MPs you get the more jobs, the more money for our NHS and for

schools, the more Liberal Democrat MPs you get the brighter the future

for our children, Theresa May and Nigel Farage's cold, mean-spirited

Britain is not the written I love. Britain I love is generous, and it

is compassionate, the Britain I love is one where we are decent to each

other, the Britain I loved is open, tolerant and united. If that is the

pretty new look to then this is the moment to stand up. -- if that is

the Britain you love as well. I am here tonight because when my

children are my age I want to look them in the eye and tell them

honestly when the moment came to stand up for the future I stood up.

I am determined that our children will grow up in a country where

people are decent to each other, I'm here tonight because the Britain I

love is not lost yet. That is the country I want to lead. Thank you

APPLAUSE When in London there are the few

landmarks that every tourist must see.

Westminster Abbey, Nelson's column, Buckingham Palace, and of course the

houses of Parliament including Big Ben. But as all purists will power

you the bed is not the name of the clock or the tower but just the name

of the bell. -- but as all purists of the bell. -- but as all purists

will tell you. Intel recently the power was known as the clock tower

but now it is called the Elizabeth power. It is that the clock tower to

be built in Parliament's grounds, the best was demolished when it

became dilapidated. A massive fire almost destroyed all the buildings,

here. Said Charles Barry won the contest to design a new Houses of

Parliament. His assistant work on the final design for the Gothic

tower. Work on the 315 structure took 13 years, it was completed in

1859. But, in recent years the power's teachers come into question

because it is leaning. In fact, it is almost half a metre out of the

top, leaning north-west. Experts say could topple over in around 10,000

years. Campaigning has started for the general election which will be

held on May the 6th, Gordon Brown said he wanted a clear and

straightforward mandate... Author than telling the time and housing

the famous bell it has had other uses. -- other then. There used to

be a prison cell for badly behaved members of parliament, the last one

was locked up in 1887 members of Parliament needn't worry. There were

334 steps from the base to the Belfry and 759 to the very top. The

eight shields between the Belfry in the cast iron roof to pick the three

kingdoms and the various members of the House of Judah. At one time it

was common to see wisps of smoke coming out of the top of the power.

-- the House of Tudor. A furnace was kept burning at the base, used

when... In 2012, in honour of the Queen's

Diamond jubilee the tower was renamed the Elizabeth power by the

Speaker of the House of commons. I hereby declare that the below that

clock tower, one of the best known site is, not only in this country

but around the world is now officially renamed, The Elizabeth

Tower. Thank you. So the Elizabeth Power it is. And with love and

attention it will continue to be the backdrop for thousands of tourist

snaps all over the world. And if you can't beat them, join them.

This is where power resides. It is intoxicating, magical. The interior

was designed by a psychotic named Pugin. People build is getting older

than we are able to deal with it. The stonework is crumbling beyond

recognition. It's so rare to see it from up here and yet it is so

familiar. The outlines of this building, the colour of the stone,

the towers and the turrets and the gargoyles. Yet this building has

hidden Demons two, expensive ones. Look behind the grandeur, look

behind the guilt. There is decay, some of it dangerous. Fires and

floods are not uncommon in this architectural masterpiece of our

democracy. But it is the grandest of grand designs. Now, even the

position of the books on the shelves position of the books on the shelves

in the Lords library is listed. Touching anything, let alone keeping

the building standing is more complicated than the Lou Reed

patterns on the carpets. You'll agree the building is getting older

faster than we can deal with it. The end point of that is you wouldn't be

able to use the building, it would literally begin to crumble. We are

talking about the intricate, priceless Victorian artwork and

books in this case. And they could be lost forever. There comes a point

beyond which you don't want to go there to get to that state where

effectively you are working in a ruin. To fix it, the cost will be

phenomenal. The annual DIY bill is already around ?30 million. Some of

the worst damage is on the famous skyline. It hardly even feels as if

anyone has been up here for 150 years. Let alone looked after it

properly. But to restore it and make it safe will cost taxpayers dear.

Newsnight has been told to working assumption for the cost of restoring

the Palace is ?3 billion. One senior insider said I would be surprised if

it stayed at that. Alternatives are everyday, and that a decision is

delayed, the fabric of the building gets worse. This is Cloister Court.

It dates back to the 14th century. Historians here tell us that no

member of the public has ever been in here. Until the end of the Second

World War, it was where MPs would come to go, Churchill, Gladstone,

Disraeli, have hung there had to. It is a beautiful and secret space but

it is falling down. The main problem as you can see, stone decay. You can

see the stone is crumbling where it is weathered badly. It's of the

facade are missing. But also there is a problem, some of the facades in

the courtyard are actually sinking. We're going to have do investigate

that very soon. It is crumbling and sinking. It is not sinking very fast

but it warrants investigation. These buildings are treasures, hundreds of

years old but they won't last another hundred like this. This is

the wall of Westminster Hall, one of the most important parts of

Parliament and the stone facade here is so weak that you can crumble it

off in your hand. The real mess is below ground. Asbestos, leeks and

pipes and wiring that is decades old. It says welcome to hell on the

door. It was fully congested with pipes and cables. This is the most

significant because it runs from the basement up to the roof. They would

need 2000 of these cables and it took 18 months to identify where

they go to. 18 months just to sort out this one part of the building.

Untagged in all of this will not just be expensive, it will be one of

the most, located restoration projects ever attempted. Until now,

it has just been patched up and fixed up with real ingenuity. But it

can't last. The relatively small round of maintenance already costs a

fortune. Someone told me there is ?75 for every single tile.

Is the crisis in living standards. Yesterday, the Conservative Party

published their manifesto. Far from addressing that crisis, their

proposals present a clear threat to living standards. Today, we will be

hearing from John McDonnell, Labour's Shadow Chancellor and

Rebecca Long Bailey, Labour's Shadow Business Secretary, about this

threat. And the choice facing the British people on the 8th of June.

We are also launching today our punchy and hard-hitting poster.

Which demonstrates the risk of the Tories to pensioners living

standards and security. John, over to you. As Andrew said, this week,

Labour published its manifesto for the general election. It was a bold

and transformational programme for government. Designed to rebuild our

economy and deliver for working people. Yesterday we saw the Tory

manifesto. This was a manifesto that promised more of the same. More Tory

failure on living standards and a manifesto that fails working people

and especially pensioners. Is a's manifesto dropped the triple lock.

Dropped the tax and dropped their commitment to raising living

standards. There is not a single reference to living standards in the

entire manifesto. This is extraordinary. Living standards are

falling under the Tories, a situation described by experts as

dreadful. And severe. Theresa May couldn't promise that she would seek

to address this. There is a clear and unambiguous threat to living

standards. An attack on pensioners and on working people. Today,

Rebecca and I will set out what this threat means for working people and

for pensioners. The Tories have launched an all-out

attack on pensioner incomes by abandoning the triple lock, cutting

winter fuel payments, raising the state pension age and breaking

promises on social care and GP access. They have laid bare the

threat they pose to pensioners security and living standards. And

have shown beyond a doubt that they are turning their back on older

people. And future generations pensioners. Those people who worked

hard, they did everything asked of them. They put their blood, sweat

and tears into making Britain great. And today they must feel they have

been kicked in the teeth quite frankly. Theresa May's message to

them and millions of workers is now this, work for years longer only to

receive far less generous support in old age. Not even a carriage clock

for your years of service, just sort yourselves out now. And Theresa May

had the cheek to say she would end her party's pursuit of selfish

individualism. Let's look at the evidence. On the triple lock,

Theresa May used to support the triple lock. In a debate in the

House of Commons in 2011, she acknowledged how crucial it is for

pensioners when she said it gives real security and a decent income.

It was a firm commitment in the last Tory manifesto. Now only two years

later, she is refusing to commit to the triple lock for the lifetime of

the next Parliament. Under the Tories, after 2020, the state

pension would be upgraded by average earnings, growth rate or inflation,

not be guaranteed 2.5%. There is one very big problem with that. The

Tories record on pay is absolutely atrocious. Real wages are lower than

they were in 2010 and they are now falling again. If the Tories's

abysmal record is anything to go by, pensioners are set to be hundreds of

pounds worse off if the Tories get back into power. Analysis we are

publishing today shows just how weak Theresa May's new double lock would

have been over the last seven years compared to the triple lock. Older

people receiving the basic state pension would have been ?330 worse

off since 2010 under the double lock. The Tory record on wage growth

is so weak that in 2015, under the double lock, the basic state pension

would have been operated by a measly ?1 36 a week. That's not good enough

to guarantee the real value of older People's pensions. They deserve a

lot better than this. They deserve respect. That is why I repeat today

the firm commitment that Labour has made to pensioners. Unlike the

Tories, we won't cut your pension. We will protect your income by

keeping the triple lock over the lifetime of the next Parliament. And

the next Labour government will keep winter fuel payments as well. The

last Labour government introduce them in 1997. Between then and 2010,

they helped lift over 900,000 pensioners out of poverty. The

Tories have tried to suggest that they are cutting winter fuel

payments only from the richest in society. What we have got in the

Tory manifesto yesterday was a substantial cut in support for

millions of pensioners. According to the resolution foundation, 10

million pensioners could be at risk of losing their winter fuel payments

worth up to ?300. That is 10 million pensioners. That would not just be a

cut for the very rich, that is a cut for five out of every six pensioners

in Great Britain. When the averaging, for retired households is

just under ?20,000 a year and pensioner poverty has risen by

300,000 under the Tories, this cut is nothing more than an attack on

pensioners. It's morally wrong. The Tories should come clean about what

their plans would mean. How many pensioners would lose out and by how

much? But we are quite clear on this. We introduced winter fuel

payments, they worked. We will keep them to protect pension's living

standards. Let us move on to the state pension age. The Tories wrote

their own review in the pension age. We got a clue as to why that might

be. Instead of setting out their plans, they said they would only

ensure the state pension age reflects increases in life

expectancy. Worryingly, this suggests to many that the Tories

could adopt the recommendations of a review bringing forward increases to

the state pension age for millions of workers. Figures provided by the

House of Commons library shows that plans to increase the state pension

age would mean that 34 million people will work longer if the

Conservatives win this general election. In contrast, Labour's

manifesto, sues to leave the state pension age at 66. We have

commissioned a new review of the state pension system tasks with a

flexible retirement policy to reflect the wide variations in the

British workforce. This is a threat facing pensioners. Lower incomes,

less support and a shorter retirement. That is what the Tories

are offering pensioners. And that is the thanks they are giving them for

a lifetime of dedication to Britain. And their attacks don't stop there.

The Tory squeeze on working families is just as severe. John, it is over

to you. As Becky says, the threat to working

families is real and severe. We are currently witnessing the worst

decade for pay in 200 years. Real wages are still lower today

than aware when the Tories came to power in 2010. This week got news

that the situation is deteriorating further. Real wages ten negative in

the last few months which means that prices outstrip pay packets leaving

working people worse off, it is worth pointing out how extraordinary

bases, according to the OECD, the UK is the only advanced major economy

where growth has returned since the crash, or wages have fallen, and it

is unlikely to stop that, experts have warned that with the cost of

living increasing, household incomes are set to be squeezed even further,

under the Tories, working families are paying more in tax and there are

further tax rises in the pipeline. Since 2010 the average household is

paying more in both direct and indirect taxation, a total of nearly

?2000. Under current proposals the net tax rises of 14.4 billion, or

not bring 6% of national income in the pipeline between now and

2021-22. This is a net figure and takes into account any tax cuts.

These 14.4 billion of tax rises is equivalent to ?760 per family. That

means, under the Tories, the tax burden is set to reach the highest

level since 1986, 1987. And what it would get yesterday's the scrapping

of the commitment to no increase in VAT. An extension possibly of VAT.

This is a clear and unambiguous threat to working people. Labour is

promising no increase in taxation and lower middle earners. The

Tories, in contrast, have increased taxes on working people before and

will do it again. Tory fell year on wages and Tory tax rises are feeding

through to the worst squeeze on household since modern records

began. Today, we are publishing what it means that households, under the

Tories, the UK is set to experience the worst decade in real household

disposable income since 1949. This has a material impact on household

finances. The average household is ?1000 worse off this year alone as a

result of the Tory's abysmal record on living standards relative to what

households could have expected under Labour. In the 2070 manifesto, the

Tories have scrapped their commitment to raise living

standards, the 2050 manifesto promised to raise living standards

yet living standards has been omitted from yesterday 2070

manifesto, without a single reference to living standards in the

entire document. -- 2070 manifesto. This manifesto offers working

families and pensioners in security. Gone was the commitments to raise

working people's living standards or not to raise taxes on working people

and gone with the commitment to protect pensioners' incomes of the

triple lock. This signals a clear threat to working people and

pensioners. The choice, at this election, is clear. A threat to

working people and pension's living standards of the Tories re-elected

on the 8th of June or Labour pan to support working people. Labour plan

that will introduced every living wage of ?10 now by 2020. A plan that

will commit to no income tax rises, no increase in VAT and no increase

in National Insurance contributions under Labour plan that will invest

in our vital public services. That is the choice at this election. A

clear threat to working people's living standards or a Labour Party

that will stand up for the many, not the few. Let me just mention, the

issue with regard to older people. Yesterday the Conservative Party

abandoned older people, there was a triple whammy, the tearing up of the

triple lock, the attack on the winter fuel allowance, and the plans

on care costs where people could lose control of the homes. Just want

to mention the winter fuel allowance, to be frank I am angry.

I1 of those people who campaigned against fuel poverty for number of

years. -- I am one of those people. There is 1 billion pensioners and

more living in fuel poverty, 30,000 excess deaths a year in winter in

this country. It looks as though, as the resolution foundation has said,

the means test could hit all those not on pension credit, 10 million

people. We also know that a third, because it is a means tested

benefit, as I do not claim. This is a savage attack on vulnerable

pensioners, particularly those who are just about managing. It is

disgraceful and we are calling upon the Conservative Party now to

withdraw it, today. To withdraw it today. We will not stand by and

allow pensioners winter fuel allowance to be cut in this way and

the so many of them to be back in a situation where they have to choose

whether they heat or eat. This is the fifth richest country in the

wealth we should be of keep our pensioners say in winter and war. --

in winter and warm. Thank you John and Rebecca. We have a little time

to question from the media, I will take them in groups of three said

Tammy you name where you're from. Tamara Cohen, first. Thank you, I'm

Tamara Cohen from Sky News, why should the likes of Mick Jagger or

Alan Sugar gets ?300 year from the tax payer when it could be spent on

working age people which you and Jeremy Corbyn has championed, would

you lie not to see any restrictions at all on the winter fuel payment?

Secondly, you have not mentioned one of the more glaring promises on

immigration that the Conservatives have mentioned. Is that because you

have no plans to reduce immigration if you win the election? The whole

point of introducing a non-means tested benefit the winter fuel is

because they do have a deterrent effect on claim. We have seen that

on pension credits, a third who are entitled are not claiming. Largely

because means testing is so complex, the pension credit bombers 19 pages

long, so, historically it is dimension to Bob at universal

benefits actually reach the people that need it. -- the pension credit

form is 19 pages long. Those people who have higher incomes pay through

their taxes and that is the way that you introduce the fairness into the

system of overall. We are putting at risk large numbers of pensioners

this winter if the Tories get re-elected. That is why we are

demanding, actually, that they withdraw this proposal immediately.

Because, it introduces and in security up to 10 million pensioners

in this country. Most of them, the vast majority, are on lower middle

endings, as Becky says they have done everything asks them in terms

of working throughout the life contributing to taxes in National

Insurance, and saving. With regard immigration, let's make this

absolutely case, questions, we've just had a manifesto published

yesterday completely un-costed, 60 pledges with no costings beside them

at all. When the Labour Party manifesto we published our cost inks

alongside it and we are open to discussion and debate around those

costings. -- costings alongside it. Yesterday there was an un-costed

manifesto 60 pledges and the immigration pledge, it has been into

Conservative manifesto is that the last two elections and has not been

met and now known costed commitment again. When it was put to Michael

Fallon last night he sell apart unable to respond on the costs,

although we know there is a range of independent assessments of anything

of the cost between 4- ?6 billion a year. In terms of immigration we are

saying, our immigration policy will be managed and the and based upon

the needs of this country. We will not undermine our economy on the

basis of setting unrealistic targets the way this Conservative Party

have. Remember who was responsible the implementing in achieving these

targets, Theresa May in the Home Office. So, what we want is a

realistic immigration policy based upon comic yes Ben is a management,

but also upon the needs of the economy. -- yes, fairness and

management. Hello, I'm from ITV News, John, what you think it is

about Labour's reputation that means that you have to cost everything

where was the Conservatives seem to feel that they do not have to cost

anything in the manifesto? Secondly, they said yesterday that they would

expand Heathrow, you are against the expansion of Heathrow and Labour's

manifesto is unclear on what she would do about Heathrow, what is the

party position and is it finish up personal position? A good point on

the issue of casting, I think it is outrageous, here we had the Labour

Party coming forward with a costing programme in detail, some people

might disagree on the way we are turned raise the funds but at least

they know what choices are and yet there was nothing in terms of the

costing... 60 promises and pledges an costed and those questions need

to be asked of the Conservative Party. What we will do this

afternoon is we will issue generalist with the key questions to

ask the Conservatives which will improve your journalistic careers.

LAUGHTER What we will try to do is measure productivity and harmony

questions you actually ask. I think it is important we pin them down on

this, I think Howard getting away bit? I do not think they are any

more. I think you've got a job that you can help the general public,

part of the Democratic debate, at some point by point what the

costings are? Some of these questions are serious or stop the

issue around that winter fuel is serious, is putting pensioners, many

under severe threat is the result of that feeling extremely insecure this

morning. I think the difference between hours is that actually, we

have now broken through as a party. It is innovative of us to lay out in

detail in general election exact details of funding and I think we

have set a new standard for political parties to follow. Ickes

backed the Conservative Party to do that, if they can. -- I expect the

Conservative Party to do that. They have the advantage that they and

government, they have the Treasury. We asked the Treasury models and

access to help us get information, they denied is that access. What

we've had to do is draw upon the Treasury information we can get an

independent assessment what we're done. Yes, open to challenge but

letters have that debate. Let them put the figures out that. We will

issue the 30 questions this afternoon, measure your productivity

and you never know they might be apprised of the most productive

generalist and answering them. With regard to Heathrow, the position in

the manifesto is clear that the Labour Party supports the work of

the airports commission and as you know that is recommended at third

runway at Heathrow but the Labour Party's position is that any

development on aviation expansion in the London Southeast is subject to

conditions that are about environmental protection and

economic benefits to area itself. Obviously as the constituency MP I

have historically campaigned against it being expanded because I do

nothing it can meet those conditions, and as in all these

instances there was the responsibility of an MP to represent

their constituencies. Thank you, John. The lady there. Thank you,

Alex Forsyth BBC News, on the winter fuel allowance you are quoting the

resolution foundation figures that 10 million people could be affected,

but we do not know, is the truth of it, so I knew scaremongering around

the? No, no. Do you have a reaction to the fact that we're not expecting

the best fit figures for NHS trusts to be published before the election?

Leicester on this issue with regard to how we are trying to arrive at

some understanding of what the Conservatives are 20 do run into

pure land. -- let's get on to this issue. Of what the Conservatives

want to do an winter fuel allowance. At the last Parliamentary question

Time I saw that they said they would raise 1.4 billion, so that is why

the resolution foundation and others have said they want to save such a

significant sum they will have to go down to the pension credit level, if

not please let us know. Because, actually, we want to be working on

what they really mean. This is the problem with having an costed

manifesto, you send out messages that scare people. We don't, that is

the reality. It isn't as the Kaymer with the 10,000,000th ago was

resolution foundation. -- it isn't as they came up with the 10,000

figure. We have to say to the Conservative Party that politics

have moved on and people expect honesty, transparency and openness.

That is what we have done this week, we have a fully costed manifesto we

expect out of them. I think the guy was to do otherwise credibility is

shot. With regard to the last publication, this our game and has

been used about hard not to publish this information. I'm sceptical of

that. I really am. In the interest of openness and transparency, said

people have all the information before the when the go to vote in

June the 8th, I think it is important that information is out

there. Why do you need the winter fuel

allowance and what do you spend it on and secondly, I met a former

Labour voter who is deeply concerned about what the proposed Tory

proposals are on social care and worried and angry that free school

meals for infants is to be taken away but he will almost at me vote

for the Conservatives because they say they have no alternative because

of Jeremy Corbyn. How does that make you feel? What I say on the latter

question, start exploring more. As we drag information had of the

Conservative Party, and it is like extracting teeth at the moment. As

we drag it out of them, it is more about the consequences of what they

are promising. We have laid out our policies and we have tried to draw

out the information from them and we have been rising in the polls. It is

quite interesting, when we have looked elsewhere, the issue when you

mention Jeremy Corbyn, it has no difference whatsoever. We are

finding that people are respecting the fact we have a politician in

Jeremy Corbyn who is honest and decent and open. We cannot have a

situation going into an election where a major political party, like

the Conservatives, refused to tell us what they will do in government

or cost what they will do in government. They have to come clean

now. In regards of the winter fuel allowance, I spend it on winter

fuel. I am on an MP's salary, I get taxed and as a result of that, it

contributes to the Exchequer and that is the fairest way of doing it.

What I don't want, I have campaigned on this for a number of years, I do

not want means testing introduced on winter fuel because we know, ask age

UK, at least a third do not claim pension credits. If you look at the

figures on the costings other means tested benefit against non-means

testing, it is staggering. It is a more efficient way of getting the

money where it is really needed. On pension credits are you saying that

hasn't worked as a way of helping poor pensioners? An idea put in by

Labour. Are you saying it hasn't worked? I think it has had. Labour

lifted 900,000 pensioners out of poverty. I am just demonstrating how

would the difficult means tested benefits are. It is a 19 page form

on the website. A third don't get it so if we are linking winter fuel

allowance to that as well, we know a number of people will not get winter

fuel allowance. The last Labour government was terrific in terms of

lifting children and pensioners out of poverty. It has its drawbacks and

we should not translate those two banks onto something that means

people can heat their homes in winter. 30,000 excess deaths, it

doesn't happen in Scandinavian countries, it is about in selecting

your home and it is also about energy prices and that is why we are

doing stuff around the energy industry as well.

You said that the polls are moving in Labour's favour but even though

some of your policies are liked, you are still a long way behind, what

can we expect from the party in the remaining weeks that you think will

change voters minds? And a quick cheeky one, on your poster, how

exactly is the person holding the third boxing glove? It is jab jab

swing. When I saw it, I thought John

Prescott has returned. I am really pleased you said our policies are

well liked, could that be a Telegraph headline? Report honestly.

You have seen a shift in the polls. I think there is an underlying

subterranean move across the country where people are waking up that the

election is in a few weeks' time. They are beginning to explore the

policies and the real debate has happened now. Now the manifestos are

out there, they know what we are about and they know what the Tories

are about. Although there is no detail of incremental age and, that

is the one thing they cannot say about us. I think the real debate is

starting. I just wished that Theresa May would debate with Jeremy Corbyn

live on TV. I have challenged Philip Hammond to come and have a debate

with me on TV. I wonder if he is the architect of this winter fuel

allowance thing. It smacks of Philip Hammond, like the last budget which

disappeared after 24 hours. First question, when you say

pensioners would be at risk from the removal of the winter fuel

allowance, are you saying people will die as a result of Tory policy?

In the past, you said you would wade through vomit to prevent cuts to

welfare, here we have a Labour manifesto throwing money at students

regardless of whether they are wealthy, throwing money at

pensioners regardless of if they are wealthy but when it comes to working

age benefits, you are not lifting the freeze although you will

mitigate it slightly. Why are you no longer going to wade through vomit

to help those people? It is not necessary, in the overall costings,

we have ?4 billion then, we are scrapping the bedroom tax,

implementing the PIP legal ruling. And then ?2 billion for funding

universal credit as we start the reform of the system. You will see a

reform of the welfare system to ensure we tackle deep problems in

our society, particularly with disabled people themselves. We don't

need to swim through vomit under a Labour government. You would be

walking down a path which ensures we have progress for our country. What

I am saying is this, I don't want to be in a situation where people do

not get the winter fuel allowance they are getting now and as a

result, this winter, they will not be able to afford their heating

bills. I do not want our pensioners cold this winter. That is why we

introduced the winter fuel allowance. I appeal to the Tories,

withdraw it today. This is a bad policy, not costed and in my view,

it is extreme concern to anyone who has concerns about elderly people in

this country. What do you say to pensioners who

remember the IRA bombing of the British mainland in 70s, 80s and 90s

who might be concerned about the man who says that because of the bravery

of the IRI, people like Bobby Sans, we now have a peace process,

becoming Chancellor. I apologise for those words but if you also look at

what I said, I said no cause is worth an innocent life. I made that

explicitly clear. I also did everything I possibly could to

secure the peace process in Northern Ireland. At times, that was

contentious of course. We were trying to talk to people who at that

point of time, you were condemned the talking but we discovered

governments were talking to them anyway. I apologise my language but

I have made it clear that everything I did about securing peace and no

innocent life lost is worth it. The peace process was the result of a

dialogue and if I contributed in any small way, I was pleased to do so. I

made it absolutely clear that I have apologised for the language I used.

I made it clear then, I did a Guardian article, no cause is worth

the loss of an innocent life. This morning you dismissed Len

McCluskey's comments that Labour might only get 200 seats on June

eight. But the Tory manifesto with a shameless pitch to the centre. It

was last night called Labour seat of Halifax. And the regional polls show

Labour trailing in Yorkshire and falling down in the northern

heartlands, surely you must be concerned about making significant

losses in places like Yorkshire and other northern heartlands? I think

it is turning rapidly. The more we have the policy debate and the more

people see what the Tories are about, like the winter fuel

allowance and the triple lock on pensions. Living standards and the

burden on ordinary working families. The more the Tories are exposed in

that way and you can help us as journalists. The more we expose

that, the more people are realising that the threat that there is with

Theresa May going back into government. That is why I am

confident we will have a Labour government. Can I think you all for

your time, it is a real issue that the Tory triple whammy on pensioners

is a big issue now in this election campaign. We've got to make sure we

fight hard for our pensioners in this country, to maintain their

living standards and to make sure they aren't hurt by a future Tory

government. Which is why we need to make sure they understand the

importance of voting Labour on June eight. Thanks for your time today.

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