Deputy Leader says Labour values on unity and compassion are seeing
us through coronavirus crisis and must be the foundation of our
recovery
Ahead of Labour Connected - a four day online event taking place
instead of Labour’s Annual Conference - Labour’s Deputy Leader
has set out Labour’s offer of new leadership for our
country, saying that the Labour Party is offering the country
“the leadership it needs at this time of national crisis”.
Labour’s Deputy Leader, who also serves as the Party’s Chair and
Shadow First Secretary of State, said that the opposition will
act in the “best interests of the British people and in our
shared mission to defeat this terrible virus” and warned that
Labour will “call this failing Conservative government out for it
serial incompetence that is holding Britain back”.
Acknowledging that Labour faces a “mountain to climb” to win the
next election, Labour’s Deputy Leader, who will open Women’s
Connected today before giving a keynote speech to open Labour
Connected on Sunday, committed the Party to restoring “the
British people’s trust in Labour as a party of government”.
Speaking ahead of Labour Connected, Labour’s Deputy Leader
said:
“Over the next four days, the Labour Party will show what we can
achieve with a new leadership for our party and for our country.
“At this time of national crisis, we are offering the country the
leadership it needs. We will act in the best interests of the
British people, and in our shared mission to defeat this terrible
virus.
“And we will call this failing Conservative government out for
its serial incompetence that is holding Britain back.
“We know that we have a mountain to climb to win the next
election, but we are determined to climb it. We must - and we
will - restore the British people’s trust in Labour as a party of
government.
Labour’s Deputy Leader, who was a social care worker before
becoming a Member of Parliament, paid tribute to the key workers
who have “kept us all cared for, fed and connected” during the
coronavirus crisis:
“This crisis showed us that the people our economy and our
country cannot survive without are our key workers. The NHS and
social care staff who have put their lives on the line to save
others. The posties, the bus drivers, the shop workers, the
delivery drivers and so many others who have kept us all cared
for, fed and connected.
“Your service, your sacrifice and your bravery will never be
forgotten. Our whole country owes you an enormous debt of
gratitude.
“After all the sacrifice and hardship, we can’t go back to
business as usual”.
also argued that Labour’s values of fairness and
compassion “must be the foundation of our country’s recovery”:
“The coronavirus crisis has changed everything for all of us, for
our country and for our party. But our values haven’t changed.
“And it is those values of fairness, compassion that are seeing
our country through this crisis. These are our values, Labour
values, and they must be the foundation of our country’s
recovery.
“Out of this crisis, we can build a better, fairer, more equal
society”.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Labour Connected
- Currently more than twice as many people have signed up for
Labour Connected than would be able to participate at a normal
Annual Conference.
- Keynote speeches are:
- 11am Sunday - , Deputy
Leader of the Labour Party
- 11am Monday – ,
Shadow Chancellor
- 11am Tuesday – , Leader
of the Labour Party
- Alongside the keynote speeches the event will include 24
training sessions, 10 policy panels with breakout sessions, 2
rallies, member mobilisation events and a quiz.
- Over 100 speakers have come from across the labour and trade
union movement. On Tuesday there will be an international panel
including , Olaf
Schultz, Frances O’Grady and Jacinda Ardern via video message.
- Taking place alongside the main agenda and activity is a
virtual expo, approximately 100 “fringe” events and a business
forum taking place daily.
