Labour - Tuesday Today at Conference

Good evening and welcome back to Liverpool for our second round-up

Some of the speeches today might have made a Jeremy Corbyn a little

uncomfortable. Education not segregation

was the theme of Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner's speech,

she even quoted Tony Blair. London Mayor Sadiq Khan did

a popular turn to the hall, but his message was blunt -

Labour can't do anything Tom Watson drove the point home by

listing some of the things Labour should be proud of during the

Blair-Brown governments. He won himself a standing ovation.

Thrashing our record is not the way to enhance our brand. We won't win

elections like that. We need to win elections.

Opposition to the Government's plans to increase the number of grammar

schools is one of the few things most Labour members can agree on,

and their Shadow Education Secretary Angela Raynor rammed the point home

in a passionate but very personal speech this afternoon.

Conference, I left school at 16 pregnant and with no qualifications.

Some may argue I was not a great role model for today's young people.

The direction of my life was already set. You know what, conference,

something happened. Labour's Sure Start centres gave me and my friends

and our children the help and support that we needed to grow and

develop. APPLAUSE

They changed the lives of three million children and their parents.

That's why I'm proud to announce today Labour's new child care tax

force to help us transformerliy years provision for every family in

the 21st century. APPLAUSE

Every single child has merit. APPLAUSE

That is why I will fight with every breath in my body against the new

grammar schools. APPLAUSE

Conference, she's not produced a single scrap of evidence that

grammar schools can help social mobility. Selection or segregation,

as it should be called, entrenches division and increases inequality.

Conference, you've heard it before, Tony Blair talked about education,

education, education. Theresa May wants segregation, segregation,

segregation. APPLAUSE

Conference, our party, our Labour Party, will fight it, starting on

Saturday, when we launch our nationwide campaign against more

grammar schools. We're going to take the fight to the Tories.

APPLAUSE Conference, I appeal to everyone,

all of my Labour colleagues, to help lead this fight. Because together we

can defeat this. Conference, no matter what people say, Labour is

the party of social mobility, helping everyone to get on in their

life, reaching their full potential. We are the party of comprehensives,

of the open university. It was us, Labour, that founded that, bringing

opportunity to all. APPLAUSE

We are the party of access to the best education for all, enabling

every child to go as far as their tallents and their ambition can take

them. These are the values that we all hold dear. One party, united,

one Labour. APPLAUSE

Now what better way to spend your birthday than giving

That's what Shadow Health Secretary Diane Abbott did,

Conference, I am proud to be responding to this debate

as Shadow Secretary of State for Health under the leadership of a

The junior doctors action is suspended and we all hope that,

even at this late stage, Jeremy Hunt will go back

into negotiation but, conference, let there be no

doubt, Labour stands with the junior doctors.

And we need to be clear, that an end to freedom of movement

could be a disaster for the NHS and social care.

And we need to demand assurances from the Government about the EU

Under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, the Labour Party will be committed

to halting and reversing the tide of privatisation and

The Health and Social Care Act has fragmented the system,

making it so much easier for the private-sector to move in.

Conference, Labour in government will repeal the Health

And now, in its time of need, the NHS looks to communities

and the Labour movement to come together, defend it,

Accusations of antisemitism in Labour continue to fly,

despite the leadership trying to draw a line under the criticisms

with an inquiry by the human rights campaigner Shami Chakrabarti.

She's now a Labour peer. I asked whether her report hadn't closed the

issue down. I was delighted to hear that the NEC

has adopted certain aspects of my report, the recommendations on

language and conduct and stereotyping. There are some

procedural recommendations that have yet to be implemented, not least

greater resource for discipline and an in-house council. At this

conference, leaflets have been handed out calling for the

compulsion of the Jewish Labour movement from the party. A Jewish

Labour MP has had to employ personal security to come to the conference

that. Would suggest it's still a pretty big problem. Well, there are

issues and we can't run away from them. Those are quite serious

issues. They are serious issues and more has to be done. I was heartened

to hear a re-elected Jeremy Corbyn use his now even greater mandate to

be, I think, clearer than he's ever been with people across the party,

including people who claim to be his friends. He's been crystal clear

that this is not going to be tolerated going forward. That's

incredibly going forward. No part of our society is immune for

anti-Semitism and from racism, as we saw - It seems to be pretty virulent

in the Labour Party at the moment. I'm not going to get into the

competition of virtue or victimhood. We've had a toxic summer in British

politics. We lost a bright, young MP... I understand that. This is

what you and Jeremy Corbyn have done from the start. You try to

generalise the anti-Semitism rather than sticking with the specific

issues of anti-Semitism. The Juwish Board of Deputies, the most

important Jewish organisation in the country, described the report as a

"a whitewash for peerages scandal." A particular person described it

that way. What do you say to that? I would say no community is a

monolith. No one person speaks on behalf an entire community. I had

lots of support from other members of that community. Leading Jewish

charity says that your report was "a shameless kick in the teeth". Well,

I'm sorry that not everyone is grows with everything that I wrote. What

leading Jewish organisations have supported your report? I've had

support from a number of people in the Jewish Labour movement, from

rabbis. I didn't ask about individuals. I asked what leading

representative Jewish organisations have supported your report. I wrote

the report, mostly for Jewish members of the Labour Party, who

were feeling threatened and unwelcome. Interestingly, they

crossed the political spectrum. What support have you had? What leading

Jewish institution has come out and backed your report? I'm not doing

this for institutions. I'm doing this for people. I know what it's

like to have received racism. I've been aware of anti-Semitism in the

Labour Party and in the country all my life. That is what motivated me

to do this work. That motivates me still. Why due join the Labour Party

to do this report? We've known you've had Labour leanings, but for

the wider public, that wanted to be re-assured that this is an

independent report, why join the party to do the report? Because in

my view, if you want to achieve change and if you want to tell

people difficult things about themselves and about their party, it

is better to do that honestly from within. The problem is that a lot of

people don't think you told any hard truths, that you had some minor

criticisms, but not hard truths. I don't think it's a minor criticism

to talk about new 21st century ethets used in the party. It's not

minor to talk about the way in which the Holocaust has been preyed on in

vain, people have used Nazi stereotypes. That's not running away

from hard truths. It's all there in the report, as is the criticism of

the disciplinary process. I hope and believe now that this toxic summer

and this Civil War is coming to an end. People from all strands of the

party will get behind this report. We can do better. When was the

prospect of a peerage first discussed with you? I have dealt

with all of these questions, Andrew. You might want to rake over - Just

indulge us, when? It's the first time we've had to chat. The report

was published on June 30. Yes. When was the prospect a peerage first

discussed, not the offer, just the prospect? After the report. There

was no discussion at all beforehand? It was after my report. It was part

of the Prime Minister's resignation honours. I understand... There was

no discussion of a peerage with anyone in the Labour Party before

the report was published? I have been approached for peerages and

other - are you going to let me finish the answer to your question?

You have claimed that before. No, I haven't claimed that, it's true. We

can never verify that. I'm talking about this particular peerage, this

one. This particular peerage, the only one I've ever owned was offered

to me after the report as part of the Prime Minister's resignation

list. Was it discussed before the report? No. With anybody in the

Labour Party? No. Sadiq Khan, caused a bit of a stir

today when he arrived A Labour politician with an election

victory under his belt. Mr Khan is a bit of a rare

Labour beast these days, It's fair to say that his message

to the Conference wasn't subtle. Not just talking the talk,

but walking the walk, too. Never sacrificing or selling out

on our ideals, but putting them Not a revolution overnight,

but real and meaningful change that makes life easier

for the people who need it most. Conference, after the election

this summer, the leadership of our party has now been decided

and I congratulate Jeremy Now it's time for us

to work together towards the greatest prize -

getting Labour back into power. And Labour is in power right now,

not just in London, Labour re-elected with

the First Minister, And in Bristol with

the new Mayor, Marvin Rees. Labour is in power right now

in Liverpool, Manchester and Southampton, in Newcastle,

Glasgow and Cambridge, in Birmingham, Nottingham,

Leeds and Cardiff, too. Labour is in power in towns

and cities the length Of course, Conference,

Labour is not in power in the place we can have the biggest impact

in our country, in Parliament. It's in government that Labour can

make the biggest changes to people's lives and every day now

we see what happens We see the re-introduction

of grammar schools, which will leave too many children behind and deepen

inequality in our country. We see that the Government has no

plan for leaving the EU. We see that in 2016 someone's pay

and career prospects can still be We've seen six years

of damage to the services that people rely upon -

to the NHS, to schools, The people who need us the most

are those who suffer the most when Labour

is not in power. Conference, let me

end by saying this. Labour out of power would never ever

be good enough. We can only improve lives

with Labour in power. By winning elections,

by putting Labour values Real Labour values, equality, social

justice and opportunities for all. It's only with Labour in power can

we create a fairer, more equal When Labour's not in power,

we fail the very people So, Conference, my message today

is clear - it's our duty and our responsibility to put Labour

back in power across Britain. We've to start by winning

the Mayoral elections next year in Liverpool,

Manchester and Birmingham and ensuring Labour is in power

in every great city in Britain because with Labour in power

in cities and regions, we can show that our party can be

trusted to govern again. With Labour in power we can

demonstrate that we can make a real difference to people's lives

and with Labour in power we can prove that we're

ready for government. Conference, it's time to put

Labour back in power. A Labour Prime Minister

in Downing Street. A Labour Cabinet, Labour values

put into action. Conference, it's time we put

Labour back into power. He used the word "power" 38

times in his speech - Labour's Deputy Leader, Tom Watson,

he's also keen on power. He's elected to his position,

so he's got a bit more freedom to say what he thinks,

compared to those appointed by Jeremy Corbyn, and he was also

keen to tell the party not to forget what it had achieved

when it was in Government. Now I'd better get the difficult

stuff out of the way. Whatever you think of that man,

whatever he's done, how can Ed Balls be bottom of the leaderboard

on Strictly Come Dancing. These haven't been the best few

months of my 30 years We can't afford to keep

doing this. And, more importantly, the country,

the people we stand for, the millions the Tories leave behind

every day, they can't afford I'm sure there's going to be

an early general election. The more often Theresa May says it

won't happen, the more certain I am We need to stand together as one

Labour movement, millions Let's get behind John

Trickett as he masterminds Link arms with our brothers

and sisters in Labour, It's time for Labour

to get back to business. The 11 years of Labour Government,

between 1997 and 2008, were a completely unbroken period

of economic growth. We made the economy work like never

before or since and we lifted half a million children out of poverty,

and lifted a million pensioners out of poverty and gave millions

of low-paid workers the decency of a national minimum wage

and introduced a radically redistributive system of tax credits

and winter fuel payments, free TV Licences, free bus travel

for older people. More than 200,000 doctors, nurses,

teachers, police officers, More than doubling our

overseas aid budget. I don't know why we've been

focussing on what was wrong with the Blair

and Brown governments But trashing our record is not

the way to enhance our brand. We won't win elections like that

and we need to win elections. The Prime Minister could

call one next week. So now is the time to be proud

of our party. We have to believe we can win

and remember how much we achieve Jeremy, I don't think

she got the unity memo! Now, in the past, big businesses

were too easily cast as predators. We meant to say that we would stand

up to the abuse of corporate power as the Tories never will,

but we ended up sounding like we were anti-business,

anti-prosperity, anti-success. Capitalism, comrades,

is not the enemy. The real world is more

complicated than that. As any practical trade

unionist will tell you, The private-sector is what generates

the money to pay for our We can afford the best health

service in the world because we're one of the most prosperous

countries in the world. I don't say this because it's

what wins elections, I say it And people know that it's

true, and that's why And the British people

need that from us. We must be again what we are at our

core, the party of Britain, of the real British values

the Tories can never understand. Of compassion and fairness,

alongside enterprise This is no nation of idealogs,

we know that, and that's our They're blinded by money

and power, it's all they care about and the old lady next door

and your neighbour's children and that migrant family,

working 60-hours a week and paying taxes, all these can

go hang to the Tories. Other people don't matter to them,

well that's not the British way. Yes, British people want a fair

chance for themselves but they also care what happens

to other children in the class, The others in the lengthening

queues waiting months now They look like us and it's our job

to show them once again that we're We need to do that now,

the election could well be upon us. So let's give those Tories

a surprise they'll remember. Get out on the streets and start

telling the story of Labour. A great party of ordinary men

and women, just like you, who can make the world better

if you'll give us the chance. We've done it before and we've

done it again. Let's win the election and set

Britain free from the Tories. Tom Watson, in what they call

'barnstorming mode'. Now, Brexit hasn't featured big

at this conference though, without fanfare, it did vote today

for another vote on the Brexit deal when it's eventually concluded,

though that's unlikely But we sent our Adam out to find out

what the rank and file really think. They're not having this debate

on the conference floor, so let's have it right

here using this as the vehicle - to now deny them

that decision. I think Scotland has

to accept their result in 2014 and we've got to accept

our result in 2016. We need to be very careful on what

the terms are, but because it was a democratic vote,

absolutely embrace it. Can I ask you a question

about your hair. What does it look like

when you wake up in the morning? It's got to be quite

flat, isn't it? Thank you very

much. Actually another vote because people

were lied to. That's exactly what I tagged it

as when I posted it on Facebook. I'd like to fight it,

but I think we've got To make what's To make what's best,

so I'm saying embrace it. I think that we have

ail got to embrace IT. Do you think things could

actually turn out OK? Yeah, if it was the Labour Party

and Jeremy actually But I wouldn't trust the Tories

to do it. Don't have to take all these top

level European Commissioners' word. Everybody sees the midday

from their own doorstep, don't they. It's a French saying,

isn't it? What is Spanish for

embrace it or fight it. Laura, can I do the Moodbox

on the Ten O'Clock News one night? What is it the Moodbox

on the Ten O'Clock News. Do you think the Ten O'Clock News

would love this would like this I'm going to do it tomorrow

on the Ten O'Clock News. Oh, no, I was hoping that

I could maybe do it. There we have our totally

unscientific result. But I think there's slightly more

embracers than there are fighters. Tomorrow, home affairs

will dominate the morning. The conference will have speeches

from Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon, and Shadow Home

Secretary, Andy Burnham. The main event takes place tomorrow

afternoon, when Jeremy Corbyn Who knows, maybe he'll come waving

he'll come waving olive branches. The Daily Politics will be

on BBC Two from 12pm until 1pm tomorrow, and then we'll be back

for a two hour special programme from 2pm when we'll bring

you that Corbyn speech And, of course, we'll bring

you all the highlights on Today Behind the genteel facades

of Victorian London's streets,