Labour - Wednesday Today at Conference

Good evening and welcome to our last Today at Conference with

The Red Flag has been sung, the conference is over

and the party faithful have the message - the NHS will be

centre stage in Labour's election bid to win the election next May.

A 91-year-old man brought conference to tears today,

as he told of life and death in Barnsley before the NHS was formed.

The Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham got a standing ovation for

The Mayor of New York, left-wing Democrat Bill de Blasio, was

And, for a little light relief, we asked the party faithful

whether they came to Manchester for the socialism or socialising.

One of the biggest cheers of the whole conference came this morning

for 91-year-old Harry Smith, who spoke movingly about his childhood

He recalled the screams of a neighbour dying

from cancer who could not afford morphine, and his ten year-old

sister who died of tuberculosis and was buried in a pauper's grave.

I came into this world in the Roth and ready year of 1923. I am from

Barnsley and my childhood, like so many others from that era, was not

like an episode from Downton Abbey. APPLAUSE.

Instead it was a barbarous time. It was a bleak time and it was an

uncivilised time. Public health care did not exist. I still remember

hearing, while I played as a child on my front step, the anguished

cries that floated from a nearby neighbour's window. They were the

screams from a woman dying from cancer. She couldn't... Afford

morphine to ease her passage from this life. No one in our community

was safe from poor health. Sickness and disease. In our home, TB came

for my eldest sister, Marion. Tuberculosis tortured my sister and

left her an invalid that had to be restrained with ropes tied around

her bed. My parents did everything in their power to keep Marion alive

and comparable. But they just didn't have the dosh to get her the best

clinics, find the best doctors or the right medicines. Instead she

wasted away before our eyes until my mother could no longer handle her

care. She was dispatched to the workhouse infirmary, where she died

at the age of ten, 87 years ago. Mum and dad could not afford to bury

their darling daughter. So like the rest of country's indigent, she was

dumped into a pauper's pit. We must never, ever let the NHS free from

our grasp, because if we do, your future will be my past. I am not a

politician. A member of the elite or financial guru. But my life is your

history. And we should keep it that way. So say it aloud and say it

clear in this hall and across this country. Mr Cameron, keep your mates

off my NHS! APPLAUSE And cheering.

Harry Smith reducing the conference to tears.

Well, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham

But Ed Miliband had paved the way yesterday,

by putting the NHS at the heart of Labour's General Election campaign.

Taking a leaf from Harry Smith's book, Mr Burnham had

About ten years ago I saw my own mum ground down and worn out by the

battle to get decent care for my Gran. She was in a nursing home

where corners were often cut and it was hard to get GPs to visit. The

decent people who worked there were let down by the anonymous owners who

filled with untrained temporary staff. My Gran's things often went

missing and we had got used to that. I will never forget the day we

walked in to see her and her knuckle was red role where her engagement

wing had been ripped off. -- ring. Right there, right then, I made it

my mission to end this scandal. And the greatest sadness of all was that

this so-called care cost my grandmother everything she and my

grandad had worked for. And I know millions of families have been

through the same or are going through it now. People look to

Labour to change these things. This is what we will do.

APPLAUSE People out there are no that a minimum wage, zero hours

approach will never secure what they want for their parents.

What our 10-year plan for the NHS is founded on people before profit. We

will free the NHS from Cameron's market, and yes, repeal his toxic

health and social care act if it is the first thing we do. For any

family caring for someone with long-term needs, one team around

you, no longer should frail and vulnerable people be shunted around

the system in the backs of ambulances, too crowded Accident and

Emergency departments, instead, this team will come to you. It's goal

will be to keep you in your home, safe and well. Building the NHS

around you will need a new generation of NHS staff, as Ed said

yesterday. We will recruit new teams of conker workers, physios, with GPs

at the centre. And we will have mental health nurses and therapists

at the heart of this team. No longer the poor relation on the fringes of

the system but making parity a reality.

So today we announce new support for carers. The right to a break or

respite care. The right to an annual health check. Help with hospital car

parking charges. They matter as much to me, too. I make this appeal. Help

the party that founded the NHS give it a new beginning. Help us make it

the service we all wanted to be. An NHS that put people before profit.

An NHS that cares for the carers. An NHS they are for your mum and dad.

An NHS with time to care. An NHS for all of you.

The fall-out from Ed Miliband's speech - not just

the bits he delivered but the bits he didn't - have dominated this last

It's fair to say he didn't get the positive reception he enjoyed

He spoke for more than 60 minutes without a script,

but he forgot to mention the budget deficit or immigration or welfare.

Earlier, I spoke to the Shadow Leader of the House

What do polls show is consistently the top two issues concerning the

British people? The polls I see show that immigration and the economy are

two top issues, and the NHS rising extremely quickly. The polls I see

are the economy and immigration as well. Why did the leader of the

opposition failed to mention them? I think he has had his explanation at

great length. He delivered the speech that he delivered, 67 minutes

without notes. And he left the three lines about the deficit. He left

that more than that. The fact that edge did not mention the deficit in

the speech does not change our determination to deliver. We will do

a lot better than a government that actually said it will have balanced

the books by next year and will have a ?76 billion hole in their plans.

You will inherit that. Absolutely. Ed Balls was clear about that. The

people have a right to know what Mr Miliband would have said. So we put

it up on the order Q. Would you like to tell the British people? You want

me to read it? Shall I do it in Ed's voice. No, it is the words that

matter. Britain will be spending ?75 billion on the interest on our debt

alone. That is more than the entire budget for our schools. So as Ed

balls announced yesterday, Labour's plan is based on a tough new

approach. Eliminating the deficit as soon as possible in the next

Parliament, getting the national debt falling, and no proposals for

additional borrowing. We will get the deficit down. Immigration

benefits our country but those who come here had a responsibility to

learning less and earn their way. Employers have a responsibility not

to exploit migrant workers and undercut wages. You have stopped

reading now. Maybe I am doing a job interview fee your job! -- for your

job. The last day of conference can be a

graveyard spot for speeches. But Sadiq Khan and Yvette Cooper had

plenty to say. British citizens have joined the

barbarism of IES -- Isil. Holding hostage Alan Henning, British aid

worker. As Muslims across Britain have made clear, this is a perverted

ideology that persecute anybody who gets in their way. It is time to

strengthen the counter terror powers that the Government weakened, so the

courts can stop serious terror suspect running away. Time to revive

the community prevent work the Government cancelled subcommunities

can do their bit to stop the vile extremist ideologies taking hold. A

Labour government would bring in stronger border controls to tackle

illegal immigration, proper entry and exit checks so visas can be

enforced and criminals stopped. We will set smarter controls and

targets to reduce low skilled migration and Visa abuse, yet get

the top talent. Those who come to work and live need to contribute,

not claim benefits, abide by the law. Rules must be properly

enforced. That means we need radical reform when it comes to Europe, to

stop the growing crisis at Calais. To strengthen restrictions on new

countries. To change benefit rules so people cannot claim when they

first arrive. To change deportation rules to make it easier to send home

EU citizens who commit crimes. Theresa May says crime is falling

and we do not need as many police. I say crime is changing and we need

police and Home Office action to keep our children safe.

We need the national inquiry we called for two years ago that still

hasn't started. We need a overhaul of the institution that tack this

will crime much we need stronger laws so professionals could never

turn a blind eye. A Labour Government will change the law to

ban convicted sex offenders, convicted child sex offenders, from

working with children. We will put child protection first.

APPLAUSE This is Labour's plan. Stronger controls at our border,

stronger actions against exploitation, standing up to

extremism, more police on our streets, more help for victims to

stay save. Justice for those whose voices aren't heard. Fairness,

security, justice for all. Conference, this is Labour's plan

for our future. Rotherham and Rochdale are rightly

seared into the public's conscience. Hundreds of girls, some as young as

12, abducted raped and trafficked. Yet disbelieved or ignored by the

police and the authorities. This must never be repeated. .

APPLAUSE Labour will act. We will bring in the country's first ever

victims' law, transform the culture in the police and in our courts.

Give a voice to the most vulnerable. We will do all we can to stop people

becoming victims in the first place. Punishing criminals, but reforming

them too. Westminster has become a dirty word. We ignore this at our

peril. That is why Labour will overhaul our democracy. Making it as

easy as possible for people to vote. Transforming elections so that

voting is in tune with the busy lives people lead. Holding elections

at the weekend to raise turnout. Polling opened a week in advance to

allow early voting. Lots of speeches, stale

sandwiches and warm white wine. But did delegates come to Manchester

for the socialism or Here's Adam Fleming with

his moodbox. What motivates people to spend four

days at the Labour Party Conference, is it the socialism or really the

socialising? The socialism, to be inspired. About how we will have a

Labour Government. You have not been to any parties or drink receptions

or anything? I haven't been to any parties. I have had a drink! Right.

Why do you come to the Labour Party conference? Socialism. I want

socialism back in the Labour Party, not the third way of New Labour. You

think it's a daft question? Yeah. Why? You are here to change Britain

for the better. Not to have a good time? Definitely Do you think not.

There are people here to have a good time? Maybe the beautiful people.

I'm lobbying for the defence industry, I'm a local councillor.

It's about us versus them. Is I'm meeting people. That is the main.

Someone who is honest at last. Get it in the socialising box? What is

the best party you have been to? It's got to be the... Co-op. What is

on offer here? We have bread, pies... I love a pork pie! You go to

a lot of parties. How do Labour parties rank on the party scale? You

mean compared to Annabel's? Yes. Much better! Why do you come to

Conference, socialism or socialising? If you are a true rev

leasary, you don't have time to socialise because the people are

more important than parties. That's the true nature of a socialist. You

don't see Hugo Chavez on the dance floor? If I said the words gangnam

style? We did it yesterday. I had Mr Balls on the right and Miss Cooper

on the right. Do it now? Did Tony Blair like the socialising He always

emphasised the "social" he is a man who knows how to have fun. Are you

going to a party now dressed like that? We are always partying! I'm

too focussed on socialism to socialise? Do you and Harriet go to

parties together or meet up at the end of the night? Once in a blue Do

you get moon. Wined and dined? Is I haven't so far. If you're offering!

If you're offering. I knock off in 10 minutes. There you go, the Labour

Party Conference has spoken. It looks like the majority of people

are here for the serious stuff. Anyway, I'm off to a champagne

reception. See ya! The recently elected Mayor of

New York, Bill De Blasio, took to the podium this afternoon to

address the delegates There are other candidates for

Mayor, they were better known. They also aspoused ideas that were seen

as more politically practical, closer to the status quo. It was

never my intention to nibble around the edges of Tim mid maintenance. I

ran to take dead aim at the crisis of our time -- timid. I became Mayor

of our great city because every day New Yorkers were hungry from a break

- excuse me, hungry for a break from a status quo that wasn't working for

them. Ed Miliband will be a Prime Minister for Briton's with second

jobs, not just those with second homes! !

APPLAUSE Ed's plan, his vision, it's not

political talk, it's real. It's a real plan that gets at the crux of

this economy. Labour's plan for tax policy rewards hard work over

existing wealth and power. A plan to end the current Government's tax cut

for the wealthiest and give tax relief to 24 million middle and

working-class people. I can't think of anything stronger and more

appropriate. Look at the back drop we have distinct histories of our

two nations writ written on opposite sides of a an ocean. They leave us

at the moment facing essentially the same exact crisis. That underscores

just what we are up against. Just the immense scale of the problem.

But you still have the power to overcome it. You still have the

ability to show people that they don't have to accept this. If you

reject the cold, complacency of the status quo, the status quo power

will erode. If you speak hard truths, people will listen. If you

empower the people of your great country to speak their truths, to

stand up and to act in the face of this crisis, then there is so much

good that you can achieve together. I believe you will. Thank you.

The ubiquitous sketch-writer Quentin Letts has been following events

# Together we will go our way # Together, we will lead some day

# Together you're hand in my hand # Together, we will make the

plans... # Rough old game, politics that is,

football too, if you are playing the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls he took a

part in the annual Labour Party versus Fleet Street. One reporter

came off the worse. The problem for Labour here, in terms of news

management, was that Scotland was still very much at the top of the

agenda. English votes for English MPs, not a topic that Ed Miliband

and his team really wanted to discuss. I just want to add my

thanks to all of our colleagues for the incredible job that they did in

keeping our country together. Alistair, I want to thank you, you

could have had an easier life after 2010. .

APPLAUSE Things kept going wrong. One of the main contributors was

Rachel Reeves, who was meant to be one of their star players. She was

asked about child benefit reforms and the details there of. Didn't

seem to know them. Then, as shadow Pension Secretary she was asked what

the old age pension was. Oh, dear, she didn't know it. How much is a

pension at the moment for an elderly person? Just under ?100 a week, the

basic state pension. Is it? Yes. The basic state pension is under ?100?

Around ?100 a week. If you get - I thought it was ?113? Around ?100. If

you - You don't know what the pension is? It depends... Is you can

always rely on the big union leaders to put a bit of fire into the belly

of the delegates, may not be quite the message that the party

leadership wants, never mind it works in the hall every time that

Len McCluskey got up on stage. Then we had a geezer called Manuel core

at the, he gave a speech that would not have been out of place in Fidel

Castro's Cuba. Terrific stuff. We champion the politics of hope over

the politics of fear. Let's send a vow from this hall. A strong vow to

the British electorate, that our party will always, always, always,

always put people before party will always, always, always,

move, thank you. Dawned Tuesday, Ed Miliband's big speech. In some

respects, the delegates liked his speech. They liked it very much when

he talked about the NHS. They liked it when he attacked their enemies.

Mr Miliband had again memorised his speech, all 68 minutes of it. It

should have been a bit longer he forgot certain aspects he forgot to

mention immigration and forgot to mention the deficit. Dear, oh, dear.

Together say it is's not a you pokerful few at the top whose voices

should be heard, the voice of everyone. Together says it not just

a few wealthy people who create the wealth of our country it's every

working person. We can't succeed as a country with the talents of a few.

We have to use the talents of all. This hasn't been the easiest of

weeks. The mood has been flat here. A lot has been happening elsewhere

in the news. Ed Miliband's speech went down pretty badly, at least

with the press. However, the long-term electoral arithmetic and

long-term prospects of the party may be unaffected by the short-term

headlines. Sandwiched between the Scottish

referendum and unfolding events in Syria, there have been times

when this conference has seemed pretty flat, and times

when it has flared into life. It's the job of the Deputy Party

Leader, Harriet Harman, to send That involves inspiration

and a few jokes. I'll let you judge

if they were funny. Now, I know that every year I say

Conference is historic. It's never been more true. And, as someone once

said, this is no time for sound bites conference, I feel the hand of

history is on our shoulder! And the fringe events and barracktivity have

been as vibrant as ever. Great to go around all the receptions, but the

only thing is that, once again, I have been the victim of mistaken

identity. Now, I've worked out what the problem is. It's my hair. I'm

used to people coming up to me and saying, "well done on the Olympics"

because they think I'm Tessa Jowell. I didn't know how to react when I

was leaving a fringe and on the way out someone saying "why has Grayson

Perry just made a speech?" We know we will face the fight of our lives.

The Tories are awash with money, quite a lot of it in roubles. They

maybe able to outspend us, but they will never out organise us. We can't

match their millionaires and oligarchs, but they will never match

our unity and determination. We know that the Tories are going to be

under hand and it's going to be a really dirty fight. Conference,

we've got to face up to how bad it's going to be. It's going to be even

worse when they took that baked Alaska out of the freezer in the

Great British Bake Off that is how bad it is going to get. We know the

Tories are going to throw a lot of mud at Ed and at our party. We have

to be really clear about why they are doing that. They attack the mess

injury when they can't when they can't argue with the message. --

messager. We are up for that fight. We have the duty to save this

country from another term of Tory rule and give people the hope of a

better Britain. Thank you. That's it from the

Labour Conference, a conference that will be remembered for Labour's

decision to make the NHS its key battleground in the coming

election and for the bits that Ed We'll see what matters more come

the election. It's the Tories

in Birmingham next week and we'll be there with our live

Daily Politics specials and nightly Jo Coburn will be back on BBC Two

at noon tomorrow and we'll both present a special on

the recall of Parliament on Friday. Don't forget This Week on BBC One

after Question Time tomorrow night. # So raise the scarlet standard high

# Within its shade we live and die # Thougcowardsflinch and traitors

sneer I'm a friend of the Archbishop

of Canterbury. What exactly does it entail,

this job? There aren't many mums who'd

let their sons run off to join the circus.

Welcome to Keele University. You can't just get things by asking.

I can. Is Tony Benn in today? How do you fancy coming to

work for me? Kit man.