Harriet Harman MP spoke at the North West Regional Labour Party Conference on Saturday 7th November

Full text of speech

Thanks, Dave.  And thanks for all the work that you do on the Regional Board.

I am delighted to be here with you all in Southport today at the opening of the Annual North West Regional Conference.  I want to warmly welcome everyone to this crucial conference.

Here we have trade unionists, MPs, party activists, councillors, MEPs, party staff – all of you who make up Labour’s great team.

And as a team we face the biggest challenge in the year ahead that we have faced for more than a decade.

The challenge is the battle for the future
•    For the future of this region and our country
•    For the future of our party and our progressive values

The weeks and months ahead will be the fightback -  our fightback against the Tories.

We are the underdogs – but we are determined that this underdog is biting back

The Tories are arrogant.

We do not accept  - whatever the Tories arrogance - that   
•    The Tories have the right to rule
•    That it is their turn to run the country

The future of this country needs a further term of Labour.

We need a further term of Labour in government to take this country safely out of recession and to build a strong and equal future for everyone.

So our promise in our election manifesto will be of the bold and radical steps which are needed.  And this conference will be an important part of shaping the policies in our manifesto.  Only one thing I want to emphasise.  Look to the future and think big.

The challenges are big
•    Global recession
•    Caring for the growing number of elderly
•    Tackling climate change
•    Countering the cynicism and lack of faith in our democracy.
•    Making sure everyone knows they have a fair chance

There’s no doubt the challenges are great.  But so are the opportunities
•    With Labour in government - we can look ahead to a decade of economic growth and more jobs
•    With Labour in government we can change the way we live, work and travel – how we get and use energy
•    We can end the shadow that the expenses row has cast over the House of Commons
•    And with Labour in government we can build  success in the future by ending unfairness, narrow, blinkered prejudice and drawing on the talents and abilities of all our people in a dynamic and diverse country.

We are proud of our record over the last 12 years in government– immensely proud.  All around this region you can see the transformation because of Labour being in government and working together with labour councillors.  Look at Manchester, where we had our national conference last year.  Look at Liverpool where we held a cabinet meeting earlier this year. Look at every community here where the school has been rebuilt where there’s a Sure Start Centre.

But for all that, the next election will not be about the past – it will be about the future.  It is that, that we will look to.  
•    People know Labour is a caring party, that we value public services. They know that because of what we have already done.  
•    They know that we hate poverty and the scourge of joblessness – and they have seen tax credits and our New Deal for the unemployed.  
•    People know we are experienced and that is to our credit.  
But on every leaflet, in every phone call in every discussion with friends, neighbours and colleagues it has to be about looking to the future – not looking back to the past.

So think about the future – and think big.

You will be hearing from Andy Burnham our ambitious plans for people having guarantees about their health care and about our plans for a new national care service for older people.

Ed Balls will be talking to you about how we keep on with our improvement in schools.

Douglas Alexander was here last night and we are all proud of the work that Douglas, Ivan Lewis and our Department for International Development is doing.

Phil Woolas is here as regional minister and housing is a priority and always at the centre of our concerns

Ian Wright- our minister for apprenticeships -  will be here later.

Our team of ministers will not just be talking about what they are doing in government but also taking the opportunity of drawing on your wisdom, experience and commitment and listening to what you have to say.

All of us have at the centre of our concerns that we see the country through the economic crisis.  And you know how we have been doing this
•    Intervening like we have done to support the car industry with the car scrappage scheme – vital for Halewood and Ellesmere Port
•    Protecting small businesses by our “time to pay” scheme for deferring their tax payments
•    Stimulating jobs by keeping on with our public building projects of homes, schools and health centres
•    Putting money into the economy with the VAT cut, with extra child benefit and pensions. Which not only help families but help the local economy.
•    Preventing this happening again by stopping the outrageous recklessness of the bonus culture of the mega-rich bankers.

This is the plan that Gordon Brown drew up and which the rest of the world has followed.  Apart from the Tories who argued that we should do nothing.

Tackling the national debt

But people are worried about the national debt - so we have to explain that it is public sector borrowing which pays for training, which supports our industries and builds schools will help sustain the economy through the recession and pave the way for a return to growth so that we can then pay back the debt.  

As Alasdair Darling and Peter Mandelson say – “the best antidote to debt is growth”.

If the Tories got into government and pulled the plug on all this intervention – saying the priority is to cut the deficit and to leave the economy to its own devices then the recovery – which is still fragile and vulnerable – would be stopped in its tracks.

And we have resisted all those who said that because the economy was in difficulties we should put our quest for equality on the backburner.  Because our commitment to equality and fairness and to help families balance their work and caring for their children – that commitment is not just for the good times, it’s for all times.

So we have pressed ahead with extending rights for flexible working.  We will extend maternity rights and we are pressing on with our Equality Bill.  It strengthen the fight against discrimination based on race, sex or because you are gay, disabled or older.  But we all know that the biggest driver of inequality is the family you were born into – where you were born- your class background.

And that’s why we have put clause one in the Equality Bill which will lay down in law that every minister, every government department, and every local authority, health authority has a duty to narrow the gap between rich and poor.

And I want to thank Maria Eagle as Deputy Equality Minister.

We will show people we are on their side – not just by what we say in parliament and on TV – but more importantly by what we say on the doorstep and on the phone.  On your side and on your doorstep and on the phone and in your workplace.  That is always what matters.  But it matters even more because people have
•    had their confidence in their prospects for the future shaken because of the global economic recession and  
•    have had their trust in politics shaken because of the MP allowances scandal.

We are well on the way to sorting out the allowances problems. And I want to pay tribute to the work that my deputy leader of the House of Commons Barbara Keeley is doing on this.

 I know people want reassurance that this really is being sorted out – and it is.
•    All allowance payments over the last 5 years are being combed through and any overpayment – even where it is by mistake – will have to be paid back

•    A new allowance system has been proposed this week by Sir Christopher Kelly and will be put into place by the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority before the General Election.

MPs come in to parliament to do good and to do public service – and we want to make sure that the public know that is the case and the allowances problems are sorted.

We need to show people we are on their side.  It is only by being on the doorstep and on the phone that we can show people we are on their side and fight the pernicious influence of the BNP.  We believe that racism and division has no place in our communities or in our workplaces.  And this party of black and white members stands with the black and Asian communities that are the target of the BNP’s bullying and intimidation.  

At the same time, we need to tackle the alienation which the BNP exploit and show that there is no community which will be left behind and not get a fair share, that we will work to ensure that there is decent housing, decent jobs and opportunities for all.

And I want to pay tribute to our dedicated and hardworking team of party staff led by Anna Hutchinson, our North West Regional Director.  Through thick and then – they get on with the job.  

It will be a fight at the next General Election.  We need to return not only our excellent team of Labour MPs from the North West – but also our great new team of candidates.

The North West is a key battleground area for us with twenty target seats as well as many Council elections next year.  This will be a pivotal region for a Labour.

Many of our team of Labour MPs came in when we won seats and came into government in 1997.  And, after 12 years of service in parliament many are standing down.  That means that we are looking to new members of Labour’s team in parliament.  We have already selected candidates who will fight hard to win and who will be a great asset to the PLP

Yasmin and Julie in Bolton
Simon in Rochdale
Clive in Lancaster and Fleetwood
Lucy in Withington
John in Barrow and Furness
David in Crewe and Nantwich
Stephen in West Derby

And we will need to select more as MPs decide to stand down as we get nearer the election.

We need great candidates – to add to the great team here in the North West.  People of commitment and dedication of energy and values.  And we need a diverse team of women and men and black and Asian candidates reflecting the diversity we have in the North West.  

So I hope that you will – when you come to select – think who will help broaden Labour’s team and that we will see as many as possible go for all women shortlists.  I know that all women shortlists are controversial.  But they are the reason that we are ahead of the Tories on women’s representation.  And we have to stay ahead.

The next election will be a choice.  We will set out our ambitious and positive plans for the future.  But the election will also be about what people have to fear from the Tories.  Here in the North West, people remember, better than most, what a Tory government meant to them.

David Cameron is pretending that the Tories have changed.  But they are still the same party.

They are still the same party that think that public services are a millstone round the country’s neck.
 
It’s not just about what the Tory government did in the past – terrible though that was.  Look at what Tory councils are doing now and look at the glee with which Cameron is promising to cut public services.

They are still the same Tories that don’t care about equality and opportunity – its not just about what they Tory Government did– look at how they vote now in the House of Commons.  

They are still the same Tories who would not help people struggling on low incomes but would always look after the rich. Its not just about what the Tory government did.  Look at their promise now to abolish tax credits and cut inheritance tax for millionaires.

Finally I just want to say what a massive honour and privilege it is to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. I know that this party faces a fight ahead.  But I an on no doubt about the commitment and values and determination of this party.  We will fight – and most important of all – we will fight to win.