Forum Topic

Labour Conference

Some powerful speeches today in Blackpool, even though I personally don't side with Labour's politics; but I strongly object to the loose way, David Lammy especially, describes the Reform party (and by definition its 250,000 members) as racist.Racism is a venomous description, and insulting to all to whom it doesn't apply.Sir Keir, in giving his speech to conference midday tomorrow, needs to be very careful how he chooses his words when fending off Nigel Farage's threat to his position.

Denis I. Fox ● 9d28 Comments

Agreed there is a lot of ground to make up and hard miles to travel. First things first let's unseat the grotesquely incompetent Hounslow Council before they impose anymore LTNs, fail to deal with weeds and potholes, or impose massive additional unnecessary costs on our primary schools

Sam Hearn ● 4h

When I talk about the Tories taking one step forwards and three steps backwards, Tom Tugendhat just confirmed that on Monday.

Steve Taylor ● 7h

Hi Vanessa - just leaving Manchester and a very successful conference. The main conference areas have been pretty packed since the weekend and the arena for Kemi's speech today seemed packed to me. You cannot believe everything you see on TV or read in the press.

Sam Hearn ● 8h

Hi Vanessa - just leaving Manchester and a very successful conference. The main conference areas have been pretty packed since the weekend and the arena for Kemi's speech today seemed packed to me. You cannot believe everything you see on TV or read in the press.

Sam Hearn ● 8h

“ wouldn't matter what anyone from a right leaning political perspective said - you'd support it.”That’s just rubbish and it doesn’t matter that the Tory Conference is half empty because that’s not the point of my post. The point is that Kemi is finally showing  strong and decisive leadership with cohesive plans. Something Labour and Lib Dem’s are seriously lacking. It’s probably too late for her now but it was good to see how she firmly, but politely, put Kuenssberg in her place. However, if you are so thrilled that the Conference was so empty it seems that you are resigned to the probability that the Tories stand little chance of success in the next GE (or local elections) so Reform are all set to form the next government because it’s a certainly that Labour won’t get another chance. They take one step forward and three leaps backwards. The budget will seal the coffin.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Steve - It wouldn't matter what anyone from a right leaning political perspective said - you'd support it. When you hear that the Tory conference is all but empty then that says it all. Opposition is the easy bit, as this government is now finding out.

Vanessa Smith ● 2d

As Farage is gaining more and more support every day it was certainly pleasing to see a fiery and assertive Mrs Badenoch taking no nonsense from Laura Kuenssberg on the Sunday Morning LK show.  Brilliant leadership qualities with firm and decisive plans compared to the wishy washy, indecisiveness of both Starmer and the clown, Ed Davey.  Kuenssberg tried her best to discredit Mrs Badenoch but failed miserably. There may be some hope yet. Of course Lucy Powell was brilliant in helping viewers to dislike her and the Labour Party even more.

Steve Taylor ● 2d

Perhaps because he isn't.

Brian Coyle ● 6d

Interesting When I lived in Soho with my father in the 80s, there was much local talk and gossip about the now-defunct West End Central and Charing Cross. And I mean in the sense of one against the other for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately, I can't say on here, but interesting what comes up on Panorama

Julian Pavey ● 7d

Having seen the really appalling antics of some members of the Met. Police at Charing Cross, being shown on 'Panorama' tonight, and the reports of misogyny among other concerns. Can we expect those outraged people so concerned with the safety of women and girls who have been protesting outside hotels to move to Charing Cross - with their flags naturally?

Vanessa Smith ● 7d

Just like Enoch’s 1968 “Rivers of Blood” speech and Starmer’s criticism today:- “snake oil merchant" this will all of course be merely treated as  political debate and opinion.

Tony Antares ● 8d

I want to cry but have to laugh Keir talking about growing the economy yet every policy is doing the opposite. He talked about local pubs he is killing them. He talks working people yet has never defined what that means but his policies are clear if you live in a council house, work on minimum wage, member of a union think  i got the definition. Cry Angela Rayner and other talk about poverty living in a council house but as a result of Margaret thatcher policy which no other government stopped she got to buy her house at a discount, not labour, funny. If i hear another labour MP say I lived in a council house now ‘now at me’ i say narcissist . I know plenty of people who were brought up in a council house and they don’t say ‘look at me’ and they have all achieved. This government is beyond out of date forget resetting our country how disrespectful of all those that work, pay tax, take nothing out. This government is destroying our society lets not get started on Labour calling everyone racist 😡

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

'He says our PM and his cabinet have "descended into the gutter"'Well if anyone knows about being in the gutter it would be Farage and his acolytes - see they've lost two more of their councillors today...........

Vanessa Smith ● 8d

It's mind boggling to think that anyone thinks either one of the two main parties has exhibited any coherent plans for the economy and quite a few other areas,immigration included.That's the whole point...we are where we are because of their plans,not despite them.

Keith Iddon ● 8d

I have just seen on GBN Nigel Farage's response to today's speeches in Blackpool.He says our PM and his cabinet have "descended into the gutter". Try to watch NF's response, it is telling.Good to see Vanessa has come off the fence at last- not.

Denis I. Fox ● 8d

Kemi isn’t so stupid as to lay out any future plans for the Conservatives when she knows they won’t be around much longer. They are losing support to Reform steadily. Their MPs aren’t in it for the long haul. They’re just happy enough to draw their generous stipends until the next GE. Money for jam really to sit on their laurels for another couple of years and then get a proper job.

Steve Taylor ● 8d

Reform seem to have a lot of support, have MPs, are running some councils now, and are getting a lot of coverage in the media.I think that in the eyes of many people, Reform are a political party, and so yes, I do consider them to be a mainstream political party.I agree with pretty much everything else you say ( though I have no idea whether they do or don't have any coherent economic plans, so with that one, I'll say I don't know if they have any coherent plans).

Andrew Jones ● 8d

"..out of all the main stream political parties and movements in the UK.."So you count Reform as a mainstream party, do you ? They lack any real experience of government, have hardly any seats in parliament, and as yet have no coherent economic policies. Hopefully their present polling numbers are a reaction to Labour's failings in the past twelve months and the Conservatives having yet to put together their plans for government - as Kemi has said, putting out detailed policies for an election that is probably four years away would not be wise when the political landscape can change quickly. A week is a long time in politics !

Richard Greenhough ● 8d

While I don't hold a candle for Angela Rayner, I think that saying she committed fraud is over the top. She was caught by an unnecessarily complicated taxation system and her failure to notice that her advisers mentioned in passing that she might like to take additional advice on getting it right. Bit of a No-brainer, in fact.

Richard Greenhough ● 8d

Well, what a shock the 'usual suspects' having a whinge. Is Reform racist? Well if they're not they are certainly giving a good impression of it. We have seen all these flag waving 'patriots' outside hotels housing asylum seekers, so concerned about the 'safety of our women and children', where were they when young women were murdered by white police officers? The protests about Sarah Everard nearly all consisted of women, and look at the treatment they got - at the hands of that same police force. So you tell me, the fact that asylum seekers are almost all black and foreign is a coincidence is it? And these are but a couple of examples of how selective Reform and it's rag-bag of flag waving morons are.

Vanessa Smith ● 8d

I used to respect streeting but listening to Wes the fact is the NHS has  been transforming for years, nothing to do with Labour. Technology advances is nothing to do with them, it’s business and many pharmaceutical company are investing in the US due to tariffs. He talks about people dying at 65 after the war my grandmas died at 98 are people so stupid????? Plus he acknowledges the Unions are behind his care workers policy shocking & praising Angela Rayner he wants her back but the people don’t she committed fraud, it’s gets worse they have no morals at all.

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

This conference offers nothing new. They keep harping on about free school meals and breakfast clubs. Where’s their motivation for people to take responsibility for themselves and their children?  Every speech is driving more and more people to Reform. Streeting just can’t make any speech without looking like he’s lying through his teeth. Pathetic. Starmer has no hope of staying in office.

Steve Taylor ● 8d

Totally agree Steve 👏 this government is the one creating division in every aspect.

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

Not sure why everyone gets so upset by idiots like Lammy spouting nonsense. The ‘racist’ card has been so overplayed and abused that nobody with a brain actually takes it seriously anymore. It’s meaningless. People don’t care if they’re  labelled racist. As Morgan Freeman says ‘ if you want to stop racism, stop talking about it’

Steve Taylor ● 8d

Labour have lost the plot, they have no clue how to govern, racist is indeed a dreadful term to use given we are such a multicultural society and proud of it. This has absolutely nothing to do with racism and everything to do with too many people in our country, too many on benefits, zero economic growth, rising unemployment, youth unemployment with mental health issues…get to work stop using screens. So what do labour do target those that work and have aspiration latest rumour VAT on private health care, seriously when the NHS can not cope they should be encouraging people to pay if they can to rescue waiting list so that those who can’t pay get treated. Andy Burnham wants to take us back into the EU, not his decision its the people’s decision through a referendum. They all need to resign no wonder Farage appeals to so many!

Jayne Thorburn ● 8d

The R word is used so easily these days.Why don't they just cut the crap and say "Nigel Farage you are indeed a massive ****"

Brian Green ● 8d

I wouldn’t say that Reform or its supporters are racist, but out of all the main stream political parties and movements in the UK, which one’s support encompasses the highest proportion of racists?I doubt it’s the Lib Dems, Labour or the Conservatives. I’m not well versed with Welsh,Northern Irish or Scottish politics.So which mainstream political party do we think has the highest proportion of racists amongst its supporters? Any opinions?

Andrew Jones ● 8d

I think they are in danger of alienating a large and increasingly frustrated and disillusioned swathe of people who just want an answer to their ongoing concerns and who have no confidence in either 'major'party anymore.Hardly surprising really after the last 30 years of nonsense.To label or imply everyone who will vote Reform is just lazy and wrong headed.Labour should remember that although they have a huge majority of seats,many more people voted against them than for them.People are sick and tired of this meaningless bluster from politicians like Lammy who haven't yet achieved anything really and doesn't show much potential.You could argue that he is also sowing division with his catch all labelling.

Keith Iddon ● 8d