Angela Rayner has promised to bring Labour’s flagship workers’ rights bill to parliament next month as she told her party’s conference: “Things can get better if we make the right choices.”
The government has faced criticism in recent weeks over its pessimistic messaging around the economy, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warning October’s Budget would be “painful” in order to deal with the £22bn “black hole” he claims was left by the Conservatives.
But while his deputy said the party “can’t wish our problems away”, she said “hope won” when Labour achieved its landslide at the last election, adding: “Change has begun.”
Politics live: Rayner speaks at Labour conference
Speaking on the conference floor on the first full day of Labour’s annual gathering, Ms Rayner said: “Let me be blunt. We can’t wish our problems away. We have to face them. That’s the difference between opposition and government.
“But… things can get better if we make the right choices. Sustained economic growth is the only way to improve the lives of working people, and we’re fixing the foundations to put Britain back on the path to growth. No more talking, but doing.”
The deputy prime minister reiterated her party’s plans to improve renters’ rights, including ending no-fault evictions “for good”, as well as promising a “devolution revolution” in the north of England, and the “biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation”.
But some of the biggest cheers from delegates came over her long-trailed plan to increase workers’ rights across the country, with her promising to bring the Employment Rights Bill to the Commons in October.
Concerns have been raised over the legislation by some in the business community, with an Institute of Directors’ survey earlier this month citing the bill as a reason for pessimism among firms who fear the impact on their operations.
But the government has sought to play down any divide, and held several roundtables with company leaders in recent weeks to allay their fears.
Championing the bill, Ms Rayner said: “They said we couldn’t do it. Some tried to stop it in its tracks. But after years of opposition, we are on the verge of historic legislation to make work more secure, make it more family friendly, go further and faster to close the gender pay gap, ensure rights are enforced and trade unions are strengthened.
“That means repealing the Tories’ anti-worker laws and new rights for union reps too. A genuine living wage and sick pay for the lowest earners, banning exploitative zero-hour contracts and unpaid internships, ending fire and rehire. And we will bring in basic rights from day one on the job.
“This is our plan to make work pay, and it’s coming to a workplace near you.”
Corrosive issue of donations left unresolved in Rayner’s big speech
It was a tricky morning for Angela Rayner ahead of her big conference speech as she faced questions about her own gifts from Labour’s Lord Alli.
Under scrutiny was a stay in his $2.5m Manhattan apartment along with fellow MP Sam Tarry, who she failed to mention was there with her when she declared it to the parliamentary authorities.
Her big moment on stage just a few hours later should have been unequivocally triumphant – her first conference speech as deputy prime minster.
But as she described her journey from struggling single mum to the top of government, it only underlined how different her life is now.
She talked about her time as a care worker trying to make ends meet, and referenced Sir Keir Starmer’s own tough background (if you haven’t heard, his father was a toolmaker!).
It was supposed to be an inspiring story and a reminder that this Labour Party has the common touch.
And yet unsaid was that this working class woman and the prime minister she serves now live lives that involve the use of luxury mansions, free clothes and football tickets – something most voters will never experience and which now sets them apart from the people they represent.
Putting any potential reporting mistakes aside, this raises broader questions about money in politics, that hung in the air during her speech – unaddressed and unresolved.
She got the usual standing ovation from the audience, but if Labour really wants to celebrate their historic election victory, they must face this corrosive issue that has so far tainted the atmosphere in Liverpool.
Concluding her speech, the deputy prime minister said: “On 4 July, the people entrusted us with the task of change and hope won. Now is our moment, not just to say, but to do.
“Labour governments of the past took on this same challenge at a time when Britain desperately needed change. They delivered a better Britain when the odds were stacked against them.
“And that is exactly what this Labour government must deliver once again. So conference, let’s get on with it.”
But the Conservatives accused Ms Rayner of “spouting what the British people want to hear, whilst doing the exact opposite”.
A party spokesperson added: “While promising to tackle the housing crisis and introduce a ‘devolution revolution’, Rayner has refused to be transparent about housing targets and ended devolution in the East of England, with new plans underway to take power away from locally elected representatives and back to Whitehall.
“Instead of criticising the Conservatives, they should look at our record. In government, we devolved power to local mayors across England, began levelling up in the North, and delivered 2.5 million homes.”
