There was a standing ovation for Angela Rayner as she wrapped up her opening address at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool this morning.
The party's annual showpiece event kicked off at the city's Arena and Convention Centre and will run until Wednesday, September 28. With Labour currently enjoying the largest poll lead over the Tories of leader Sir Keir Starmer's tenure, the four-day event offers a crucial opportunity for the party to head to Liverpool on an election footing.
And it was a strong start from Angela Rayner who stirred up the crowd with references to Partygate, Barnard Castle and even Tractor Porn. The Deputy Leader opened her speech with her own tribute to the Queen Elizabeth II, saying the late monarch "stood for unity" in the darkest times.
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It was yet another sign of the Labour party's patriotism and a shift away from the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn who questioned the decision to open this year's conference with a rendition of the national anthem. Ms Rayner went on to say the duty of the Labour Party is "to shape a future that is brighter than the past".
She added: "I see too much lost potential. Britain deserves better and I know we can do better." Ms Rayner gave a scathing summary of the Tory government's track record since the last Labour conference was held in Liverpool in 2018.
She said: "Three different leaders, a catalogue of sleaze, waste and lies. Cummings, Paterson and Pincher backed to the hilt. Chris Grayling. Grant Schapps. And too much Matt Hancock. Far too much Matt Hancock."
The Deputy Leader declared that "Britain is at a crossroads" and questioned what the Conservatives offer, other than "lining the pockets of oil and gas executives". Ms Rayner's biting assessment of the current government comes days after new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled a multi-billion pound plan that the government hopes will reignite the economy as the cost of living crisis continues to escalate.
The Chancellor confirmed an income tax cut of 1p for the majorty of taxpayers but also controversially abolished the highest rate of income tax, meaning top earners will see the 45p top rate replaced with a 40p rate. As well as scrapping a cap on bankers' bonuses, Mr Kwarteng landed another blow to workers by announcing new restrictions on unions and workplace rights.
It was little surprise, then, that Ms Rayner's vow to defend the right to strike got one of the biggest cheers of the day. The deputy leader went on to address Prime Minister Liz Truss directly, branding her "trickle down Liz" and asking: "Whose side are you on?"
She said: "When you boost bankers' bonuses but force working people to carry the can for the energy crisis, whose side are you on? Using a pandemic to pile billions into the bank accounts of cronies while nurses wore bin bags. Whose side are you on?
"When you say the working people of this country need more graft then deprive them of fair pay. Whose side are you on?"
Ms Rayner also announced Labour's Value for Money Guarantee vowing to "turn the Tory procurement racket on its head" and "give the Tory sleaze merchants their marching orders."
The deputy leader concluded her speech by promising that not only do Labour have a "vision" for the country, they also have a "plan". She said: "The Conservatives have made their choice. They've chosen their side. But we are on yours and are ready to lead this country to better."
She added: "The Tories have broken Britain - but together we'll rebuild it again. And make Britain work for working people again."
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