This week’s annual Labour Party Conference saw the announcement of Jeremy Corbyn’s re-election as Labour leader and I congratulate him on his victory. This conference has been a vital moment for Labour to regroup after a difficult summer and start to draw a line under our past. On our vision of a fairer and more prosperous Britain, with all our communities valued and recognised for the contribution they make, we now need a constructive way in which we can move forward working together, come together as a Party and work towards our common purpose. I am pleased there will be give and take on both sides to put Labour on a strong and positive step going forwards, and I welcome that.
The Labour Party has always included a range of political opinions and is part of our strength as a movement. It is from learning from each other and learning where we differ that we develop ideas and grow. To do this we need mutual understanding and respect for each other. More than ever we need a focus on the common ground – we have far more in common than that which divides us. As the Tories prepare for their Annual Conference, we must set the political agenda and hold the Tories to account for the social division and unfairness their political choices are bringing to the country.
Britain needs a new direction on the economy. The uncertainty of Brexit and where we go next is a problem for our long term growth. Britain seems to be the only country in the world without a plan for Brexit. We need to see the Government bring forward an agenda for Britain and a new positive relationship between Britain and Europe. For me that means as a first step remaining in the single market to the greatest possible extent. We should have an honest debate about the positive impact of immigration on our economy as well as the concerns about impact of freedom of movement of people and labour, and create dialogue with our European partners about why the rules of freedom of movement should be amended to give greater control to member stages if they wish it. We must look to protect our financial services industry, including passporting rights, and continue to shadow employment and environmental legislation. We must not let Britain become the poor cousin of progress as our allies move ahead without us.
With the OECD having revised down growth projections for next year to 1% next year, and UK productivity remains at the bottom of the G7 league table, it is right that the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell’s speech gave a strong message about the need to invest for growth. The OECD estimates that annual infrastructure investment of 3.5% of GDP is necessary in developed economies. Currently the UK’s public sector infrastructure investment is forecast to reach 1.4% of GDP in 2020/21. If we want our roads, rail, energy supply and housing to be fit for our nation’s needs we need to see this change.
At events with business and other organisations at conference I have argued that we need to move forward much more effectively on how we tackle tax avoidance and on how we develop Labour’s relationships with business. From transparency around pay between men and women, more support for micro businesses and the self-employed, and improving how we invest in start-ups and scale ups it is clear there is much more to do for us to grow and share our prosperity. We have exciting opportunities ahead but we need to see so much more done to support our small businesses particularly – tackling late payments, making it easier to deal with HMRC and pay taxes and much more support to trade and export. Research shows that unless a company starts to export in its first four years, its prospects for long term growth are significantly affected. We need a proper and comprehensive industrial strategy focussed on investment, connectivity, skills and education that supports our strategic industries and lays the foundation for us to exploit the opportunities of tomorrow.
And we must stand up for the next generation who are being hit so hard by this Government’s politics. If our young people are to have the opportunities that previous generations have enjoyed, we need to get serious about the Tories’ policies on education.
Over a third of our schoolchildren across the country fail to achieve the equivalent of 5 good GCSEs. Theresa May knows that this year results have worsened, but instead of fixing it, we see her set to support an 8% cut in per pupil funding from now to 2020. When the Tories should be addressing the problems they’ve created in our schools – soaring class sizes and more unqualified teachers – they are looking backwards to bring back grammar schools despite the evidence showing they failed most children and will increase inequality.
Young people, already saddled with soaring debts to go to university, are facing even bigger tuition fee hikes. This cannot be right nor does it send a positive message to our young people that they are the future, and we believe in them.
I believe we are on the same page as the British people who support our values and vision of fairness and shared prosperity. They want to hear from us a credible and compelling account of how we will make a difference to people’s lives – on jobs, an inclusive economy, strong communities, health and social care. I have seen in my own Tory health policies are failing patients and failing the NHS. Patients are facing longer waits, with hospitals overcrowded, understaffed and facing financial crisis. Britain needs a Labour Government, and for us to achieve that needs all of us.
