Tom Watson's speech - Summary
Tom Watson’s speech was the most substantial anyone has delivered to the Labour conference so far. I’m sorry it has taken a while to post a summary, but Labour were slow sending out the transcript. Anyway, it’s worth it. Here are the key points.
- Tom Watson warned Labour against “trashing” the record of the Blair and Brown governments. In a comment clearly aimed at some of Jeremy Corbyn’s supports, which received strong applause, Watson said:
I don’t know why we’ve been focusing on what was wrong with the Blair and Brown governments for the last six years, but trashing our own record is not the way to enhance our brand.
- He told Labour not to treat capitalism as the enemy. This passage seemed to be aimed at some on the Corbyn wing of the party too.
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. We’re not and we never have been. Capitalism, comrades, is not the enemy. Money’s not the problem. Business isn’t bad. The real world is more complicated than that, as any practical trade unionist will tell you. Businesses are where people work. The private sector’s what generates the money to pay for our schools and hospitals.
We can afford the best health service in the world because we are one of the most prosperous countries in the world. That’s a fact and we forget it at our peril. And I don’t say this because it’s what wins elections, I say it because it is true. And people know that it’s true. And that’s why it wins elections.
- He said he expected an early general election.
I’m sure there’ll be a general election soon. The more often Theresa May says it won’t happen, the more certain I am that it will. And, comrades, we need to be ready.
- He said Labour could win a general election by building on its achievements in local government.
We owe the British people - our people - an alternative to a government that doesn’t care and a Prime Minster they didn’t vote for. You keep hearing that Labour can’t win, well we can, and we will. And I’ll tell you how we’re going to win: we’re going to win through local government because that’s how we always win.
Our councillors are the engine of Labour’s electoral machine. It’s Labour councilors all over the country who are our leaders and ambassadors in local communities. Our councillors and our trade unions: these are the rocks our movement’s built on.
- He lavished praise on Labour’s leaders in local government and in the Wales.
What a champion [Sadiq Khan] is. What an outstanding representative of our great national capital and our historic socialist party - still relevant, resonant, and winning elections in one of the most dynamic cities on earth.
And in Bristol we have got marvellous Marvin, who you have just heard from.
What a hero. And in our other great conurbations next May: Andy Burnham,
Siôn Simon and Steve Rotherham are going to follow Sadiq’s and Marvin’s example. And Carwyn in Wales. Reminding people what Labour government looks like - how innovative and radical we can be. How growth and prosperity, social justice and fairness all go hand in hand under Labour. And not just doing the right thing - not just compassion - but doing the thing right. Competence.
Watson’s comments about people like Sadiq Khan and Marvin Rees contrasted strongly with what he had to say about Jeremy Corbyn. He praised Corbyn’s performance at the last PMQs, when he attacked Theresa May over grammar schools, but otherwise his praise for Corbyn was conspicuous by its absence.
- He confirmed his plan to set up an independent commission on the future of work.
In the next Labour government we must judge ourself on our ability to redraw that pie-chart. The problems of inequality aren’t new, but the solutions will need to be. So I’ve put together an independent commission on the future of work, to start influencing policy right now - from opposition.
It will be chaired by Helen Mountfield QC, joined by a world-class team including Naomi Climer, the first ever female President of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Professor Michael Sandel, Jon Cruddas, Lord Jim Knight and many more. We’ll feed into Jon Trickett’s work on building a targeted Industrial Strategy and we’ll report back to you next year.
- He claimed that the Tories only cared about money and power.
Of the real British values the Tories can never understand; of compassion and fairness alongside enterprise and fierce independence. This is no nation of ideologues. We know that and that’s our advantage over the Tories.
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. Well that’s not the British way.
Yes, British people want a fair chance for themselves and their families. They want their hard work rewarded. But they also care what happens to the other children in the class, the other people at the bus stop, the others in the lengthening queues waiting months now for life-saving operations.
That’s all from me for today.
Thanks for the comments.
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Jeremy Corbyn's interviews - Summary
Jeremy Corbyn has done a round of interviews with broadcasters this afternoon. Here are the key points.
- Corbyn said he would hold a shadow cabinet reshuffle next week. It would not be this week, he said, but it would come before parliament resumes a week on Monday.
I will be appointing ahead of the return of Parliament to ensure that we have an effective shadow cabinet. We are filling the positions, but we are not announcing anything this week. It is all going to come later on.
Corbyn also hinted that the reshuffle might not involve filling all 60-odd vacant frontbench jobs. He said he would “develop a team of the size that we need”. But there is no absolute requirement for the shadow ministerial team to be as large as it was. In the past oppositions have functioned with fewer shadow ministers than they normally have now.
- He claimed that “lots” of MPs would return to the front bench. “Lots of MPs are coming back,” he said.
- He restated his opposition to bringing back full shadow cabinet elections. Asked if he would agree to them, he said:
I didn’t vote for it. I’m open to the idea and I understand the argument behind it, but I also think the leader of the party must have the ability to form the general policy areas.
But, despite saying the party leader had to have some right to determine policy direction, he also reaffirmed his commitment to extending party democracy.
I think intrinsically, members need to have much more say in policy making for the longer term. That means we have to engage much earlier on.
- He said there might be a “special meeting of the policy forum” later this year to consider proposed changes to party rules. Labour’s national executive committee is expected to discuss these proposals, covering policy making and the selection of the shadow cabinet, at a meeting in November.
- He said he accepted that Labour’s policy was to back Trident - while also suggesting it could change in the future. He also reaffirmed his personal opposition to nuclear weapons.
The policy the party has from previous conference decisions does support the renewal of Trident. As you know, I never agreed with that decision ... That’s the existing party policy. I cannot predict what will happen in the future, who will decide what they want to bring forward to conference.
He also said that he wanted to “lead this party in a direction will bring about a nuclear free world.” (In their speeches to the conference yesterday Clive Lewis, the shadow defence secretary, and Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, both stressed Labour’s commitment to multilateral nuclear disarmament - suggesting that this might be a compromise policy around which Labour’s pro and anti-Trident factions could coalesce.)
Asked if he “accepted” party policy, he replied:
Of course I know what the party policy is and of course I understand the decision that was taken. Does it mean there are people in the party who have a moral objection to nuclear weapons? Yes there are.
- He said he never wanted to use a nuclear weapon. Asked if he would fire a nuclear weapon, he replied: “I never want to use a nuclear weapon.” This is as less provocative answer than the one he gave last year, when asked on Today if he would press the nuclear button. On that occasion he bluntly said no, prompting pro-Trident MPs to claim that he had rendered the nuclear deterrent worthless.
- He played down the nature of the row with Clive Lewis about the wording of his speech.
It’s perfectly normal that there be discussions with shadow cabinet colleagues on statements they are going to make, and that’s what happened. It was discussed and that’s what came out of it. I don’t see it as a huge problem, I don’t see it as a huge issue.
- He rejected claims that Sadiq Khan’s speech was directed at him.
How is that a lecture to me? It was a lecture to everybody that we have to come together to get in power ... What he was saying was we have to win a national election. On that we are all agreed.
- He said it was wrong to treat socialism as a dirty word.
Socialism is the basis of what brought the Labour Party about, it’s the basis of what forms our opinions. It’s actually the basis of why we got the NHS. The Labour Party has won lots of elections ...
Stop treating the word `socialism’ as if its some sort of bad word we should only talk about late at night. It’s an ideology that’s based on the principle that everyone should contribute and those in need should benefit the most from our common endeavours.
- He rejected claims that Labour was not reaching out to ordinary voters.
How is a message that is about making sure that everyone in this country has a living wage, that there is real job security, that we end zero hours contracts, that we invest in infrastructure, railways and broadband, schools and hospitals – how is that not a message that reaches out to millions of people all across this country?
- He said that he had changed the political agenda.
I tell you what – the political agenda has changed – Everyone’s against austerity now, they weren’t a year ago.
- He said he would tackle concerns about immigration partly by trying to standardise living standards across Europe.
What I would do about immigration is try to bring about a degree of co-terminosity, a degree of equality of work conditions and wages across Europe.
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Angela Rayner vows to fight extending grammar schools with 'every breath in my body
Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, spoke earlier. Here are the main points from her speech.
- Rayner vowed to fight Theresa May’s plans for more grammar schools “with every breath in my body”.
If Theresa May is talking about meritocracy, let me tell her that every child has merit.
That is why I will fight, with every breath in my body, against her new grammar schools. She has produced no evidence that grammar schools help social mobility. Selection - or segregation as it should be called - entrenches division and increases inequality ...
Conference, Theresa May is telling fairy tales about social mobility and opportunity. Selection is toxic. It tells a clever child they are stupid, strips a child of self-esteem and embeds inequality. Every child has potential. Every child can succeed. No child should be left out or left behind.
Conference, Tony Blair talked about education, education, education. Theresa May wants segregation, segregation, segregation. And 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 and I appeal to all my MP colleagues to help lead this fight. Together, we can defeat Theresa May.
- She confirmed that she was setting up a childcare taskforce.
That is why I am proud to announce today, Labour’s new childcare taskforce, to help us transform early years provision for every family in the 21st century. And I’m delighted that Liz Snape, the deputy general secretary of Unison, who you heard from this morning, has agreed to chair that taskforce, working with Labour’s shadow education team and childcare experts.
Our aim will be to provide the care and support for every child to fulfil their potential, and to help parents back to work. Access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early years learning is one of the most effective drivers of social mobility. Getting it right will improve the life chances of countless children across the country. That must be our mission.
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A left wing member of Labour’s ruling body who took to the the stage at the party’s annual conference to protest at impending rule changes has voiced concern that it could put the right wing of the party in control, pitting it against Jeremy Corbyn.
Christine Shawcroft said it was a failed attempt to force a card vote on rule changes which she says could allow anti-Corbyn MPs to dominate the national executive committee.
Shawcroft wanted to to kill off a proposal to hand seats on the NEC to Scottish and Welsh politicians. At a meeting tonight, the NEC will meet again to choose the body’s new chair, a crucial post to controlling the NEC for the next year, she said.
There has been an attempt by the right of the party to control the ruling body. If these changes go through, I think this could be used to change the structures of the party to give Jeremy’s opponents more say.
It is likely to go through, but at the moment there is a delicate balance of votes. I would like to see more people voted on the NEC from constituency parties. The post of chair will be crucial to getting such rule changes through.
Paul Flynn urges Labour MPs to return to the front bench
Sadiq Khan’s speech may have been the most newsworthy of the morning, but the most enjoyable was Paul Flynn. Flynn, a leftwinger, has spent most of his career on the backbenches as a member of the awkward squad but he was appointed to the shadow cabinet in the summer when the resignations happened. Flynn doubles up as shadow Welsh secretary and shadow leader of the Commons. His promotion was all the more remarkable because he is 81.
Flynn started with a joke about his age. He was speaking as a “grateful recipient of Jeremy’s job creation scheme for geriatrics”, he said. But his speech, which he delivered in his capacity as shadow leader of the Commons, contained some strong lines.
- Flynn appealed to the Labour MPs who resigned from the front bench to return. He said he disagreed with Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, who gave a speech yesterday saying the “merchants of doom” should quit. Flynn said:
Len McCluskey made a speech for unity yesterday but there is one phrase in it - the one that he stole from Shakespeare - that I must disagree with, because he did say ‘some should depart the field’. No, no, no.
We’ve got some of our best people sitting on the subs bench, you don’t score goals from the subs bench. Some resigned, they all did for honourable reasons. It took courage for many of them to resign, it’s going to take greater courage for many of them to come back and we must make it possible for them to return with dignity and respect.
- He said Labour should abandon negativity.
In the last 12 months we’ve been locked in a gap year of negativity, of pessimism, of hopelessness, by many in our party. It seemed at times a competition to see who could be the most pessimistic about our future and our prospects - we’ve got to end that. It’s time to now to give unity a chance. Take all the bile and the hatred together, put it in a box, bury it deep underground, put six feet of concrete on top and then put a sign saying ‘never should the last 12 months be unearthed from its dishonest grave’.
Flynn insisted that Labour could win. To back his point, he recalled helping out during the 1945 general election campaign with his brother. He was only 10 at the time, but he remembers his mother telling him he was wasting his time. She told him:
Look, boys, you are on the right side, it’s the Labour party, it’s our party, but this candidate cannot win because of prejudice. You cannot win in Wales as a candidate if you’ve got an Irish name. And no one called Jim Callaghan has any future in politics.
Callaghan was elected MP for Cardiff South in 1945, and of course went on to become prime minister.
- Flynn claimed that Labour had enjoyed “marvellous results” in elections over the last year.
The trouble with unity is that it is not sexy. The media, the press, are not interested in it. They are interested in rows, they are interested in division, they are interested in conflict. But they don’t notice the brilliant year we’ve had: magnificent election results. Instead of the polls, look at what happens when real people use real votes in real elections. Marvellous results in all the mayoral elections, in all the byelections. In Wales we gained three parliamentary seats that we lost a year ago.
Flynn seems to be using the word “brilliant” rather loosely. For a more accurate assessment of Labour’s electoral record over the last year, read this UK Polling Report blog by Anthony Wells.
- Flynn mocked David Cameron’s resignation honours list.
The Daily Mail, of all people, described his honours list as devalued, debased, discredited, egregious, grubby, tawdry, tainted, tarnished - otherwise alright.
- He said Britain needed “root and branch reform of our democracy”. But reform needed to happen by cross-party agreement, he said.
The only House in the world where we have chieftains, hereditary chieftains in parliament, is ourselves and Lesotho. Only another country, Iran, has clerics as lawmakers. We need a thorough reform of our democracy. It must be done on an all-party basis. It must be done with the consent of all parties so that we get a fresh democracy that’s fair, that’s durable, that’s democratic.
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