Jeremy Corbyn is setting out his vision for a Red Britain today – vowing a root-and-branch overhaul of the ‘failing’ capitalist model.
In his keynote speech at Labour conference, Mr Corbyn complained that workers have been coming second to big corporations for too long.
Making an uncompromising statement of intent, he insisted that the legacy of 1980s Thatcherism must be unwound with unprecedented levels of government spending.
And, after a better-than-expected election performance, he said his team was now ready and waiting to take over from the Tories.
Jeremy Corbyn came on stage to a rapturous reception, with delegates taking up the now ubiquitous chant of his name to the tune of White Stripe’s Seven Nation Army
The hall was so noisy that Mr Corbyn had to wait several minutes before starting his address
Jeremy Corbyn was hailed by activists as he arrived at the Brighton conference centre for his keynote speech today
Mr Corbyn held up a copy of his speech as he entered the Brighton Centre ahead of his address to the party conference
Mr Corbyn came on stage to a rapturous reception, with delegates taking up the now ubiquitous chant of his name to the tune of White Stripe’s Seven Nation Army.
It took a few minutes before a smiling Mr Corbyn was able to start speaking.
Mr Corbyn said the enthusiasm was ‘infectious’ and he hoped it was ‘infecting the whole of Britain’.
He praised the way the party had advanced in every part of the country on June 7 – stripping the Tories of their overall majority.
‘It has put Labour on the threshold of power,’ he said. ‘We didn’t do quite well enough and we remain in opposition for now… but we are a government in waiting.’
The address comes after a week in which the Left has cemented its control of Labour, with moderate MPs resigning themselves to Mr Corbyn staying in place after years of resistance.
Mr Corbn has been feted by rank-and-file supporters at the gathering, and pushed through a series of crucial administrative reforms that favour his wing of the party.
But the leadership has been fighting to contain a bitter backlash over vile anti-Semitic abuse by some activists. He fuelled the row last night by failing to turn up at a reception for the Labour Friends of Israel – saying he was too busy writing his speech but then appearing at a party organised by the Daily Mirror.
Mr Corbyn has also been accused to failing to crack down on abuse of critics and journalists, which has seen BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg forced to draft in a bodyguard to ensure her safety at conference.
There have also been furious wrangling over Labour’s chaotic stance on Brexit, with MPs and a large section of the membership demanding the party commits to staying in the EU single market and holding a second referendum on any future deal with Brussels.
However, with help from supporters in the Momentum campaign group Mr Corbyn managed to avoid a substantive conference vote on the Brexit issue – which could have thrown the deep divisions into sharp relief.
Yesterday there was another setback after shadow chancellor John McDonnell admitted that Labour was preparing for market panic and a run on the Pound if it is elected to implement a hard-left programme.
In his speech, Mr Corbyn hinted at fresh taxes on firms that replace people with robots as he calls for a ‘new settlement between work and leisure’.
He said that, with automation due to destroy millions of jobs in the coming decades, the state needs to intervene to ensure the benefits are shared across society.
‘We need urgently to face the challenge of automation; robotics that could make so much of contemporary work redundant,’ he said.
The Labour leader, pictured right taking a snap on the conference stage yesterday, has cemented the Left’s grip on Labour at this week’s event in Brighton
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, seen with Mr Corbyn at conference this week, admitted yesterday that the party is preparing for market panic and a run on the Pound if it elected to implement a hard-left programme
Mr Corbyn used his keynote speech at the Labour conference to call for employers to share the benefits of robotic technology with the workers whose jobs they replace (file picture)
‘That is a threat in the hands of the greedy but what an opportunity if it’s managed in the interests of society as a whole.
‘If planned and managed properly, accelerated technological change can be the gateway for a new settlement between work and leisure, a springboard for creativity and culture, making technology our servant and not our master at long last.’
Labour has previously toyed with the idea of a ‘universal basic income’, which would effectively see everyone put on benefits.
Party sources have played down the idea of making a concrete commitment soon, but stopped short of ruling out new taxes on businesses that benefit from automation.
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said increased use of new technology in the workplace would inevitably boost productivity, and a Labour government would force them to pass on the benefits of that to employees through higher wages and shorter hours.
‘When you’ve got big leaps forward in technological change and therefore productivity, that can be shared in various ways, both in profits and wages and salaries on the one hand, and increases in wages and salaries and increased leisure time with shorter working hours,’ he said.
Mr Corbyn has been accused to failing to crack down on abuse of critics and journalists, which has seen BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg (pictured left interviewing the Labour leadser yesterday) forced to draft in a bodyguard to ensure her safety at conference
Mr Corbyn, pictured writing his speech yesterday, said free college and university education will enable people to acquire skills that will keep them in work as old jobs vanish
‘How that pans out is something that is up to political decisions and corporate decisions.’
Mr Corbyn has also highlighted Labour plans to offer free education to college students as well as those at university, which will enable people to improve their skills as old jobs disappear.
Mr Corbyn, who has underlined his cult status with activists at this year’s conference, said Labour is now ‘on the threshold of power’, adding: ‘We are ready for government’.
But, controversially, he also used the speech to try to weaponise the Grenfell Tower disaster by blaming the fire on Thatcherism and New Labour.
Although the inquiry into the causes of the fire has barely started, the Labour leader said it was the result of a ‘failed and broken system which Labour must and will replace.’
‘The disregard for rampant inequality, the hollowing out of our public services, the disdain for the powerless and the poor have made our society more brutal and less caring,’ he said.
‘Now that graded regime has a tragic monument – the chilling wreckage of Grenfell Tower, a horrifying fire in which dozens perished, an entirely avoidable human disaster.’
Labour sources said Mr Corbyn believed the fire in the tower, which was built in the 1970s, was the result of a ‘failed economic model that was introduced in the 1980s and has been with us ever since.’
Despite deep divisions within Labour on Brexit, Mr Corbyn rounded on the government’s handling of the issue.
‘The Tories are more interested in posturing for personal advantage than in getting the best deal for Britain,’ he said.
‘Never has the national interest been so ill-served on such a vital issue. If there were no other reason for the Tories to go, their self-interested Brexit bungling would be reason enough.
‘So I have a simple message to the cabinet: for Britain’s sake pull yourself together or make way.’
Mr Corbyn, pictured attending
The Labour leader laid the blame for Grenfell Tower at the door of the Tories and New Labour, calling it a ‘tragic monument’ to modern society
Corbyn fuels Labour anti-Semitism row by failing to turn up at Friends of Israel event
Jeremy Corbyn has fuelled the anti-Semitisim row engulfing his party by failing to turn up at a reception for Labour Friends of Israel.
The veteran left-winger sent a message to the event at party conference in Brighton last night saying he was too busy writing his conference speech.
But furious activists pointed out that he did manage to attend a reception hosted by a Labour-supporting newspaper.
Mr Corbyn is under fire following more revelations and accusations about anti-Semitism within Labour’s ranks.
The Labour leader of Brighton Council has even warned the party will not be allowed back to the city unless Mr Corbyn vows to prevent a repeat of the vile abuse that blighted the conference this week.
Jeremy Corbyn failed to turn up at the Labour Friends of Israel last night saying he was too busy, but did manage to make it to the Daily Mirror party
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry (pictured at the newspaper party last night) stood in for Mr Corbyn at the Labour Friends of Israel reception. Deputy leader Tom Watson (right) has pledged to crack down on anti-Semitism in the party
The equality watchdog also intervened, telling Labour to do more to prove it is not a racist party.
The Labour leader traditionally attends the Labour Friends of Israel gathering at conference.
But when he sent Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry in his place last night activists shouted ‘Where is he?’ and ‘Why isn’t he here?’
LFI chair Joan Ryan said: ‘We’re disappointed he couldn’t be with us this evening.’
Ms Thornberry claimed Mr Corbyn was not going to any receptions because he was preparing for his keynote speech to the Labour conference in Brighton today.
She said: ‘Just so that there’s no misunderstanding, Jeremy is not attending any of these receptions this evening because he has a big speech tomorrow …
Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner did karaoke at the Mirror party last night
‘But I also know there’s been a great deal of wrestling with Jeremy and Jeremy’s diary to ensure he doesn’t spend a whole evening going from one event to another.’
However, footage later emerged of Mr Corbyn speaking at a party thrown last night by the Daily Mirror.
In his statement read out to the LFI reception, Mr Corbyn said: ‘The next Labour government will ensure Britain leads the way in promoting dialogue between countries and peoples so that we see real advances towards peace, security and justice in the Middle East and across the world.
‘Labour will continue to campaign for peace through a two-state solution, a secure Israel alongside a secure and viable Palestinian state. I look forward to working with you all to achieve that together, enjoy the rest of the reception and conference.’
Unite chief Len McCluskey, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, told BBC Newsnight that anti-Semitism claims were being used to attack the Labour leader.
Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev, who faced a protest outside the event, said: ‘To those who called for the expulsion of Zionists from the Labour party on Sunday, I ask: would you have expelled some of Labour’s greatest luminaries too? Would you have expelled Harold Wilson? Michael Foot?