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Jeremy Corbyn: Conservatives are 'poverty deniers' Jeremy Corbyn: Conservatives are 'poverty deniers'
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservative government of being “poverty deniers” and pledged to oppose the welfare reform bill in his first official speech as Labour leader. Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservative government of being “poverty deniers” and promised to oppose the welfare reform bill in his first official speech as Labour leader.
In a wide-ranging speech, Corbyn declared himself to be among friends and told delegates at the TUC conference that Labour would oppose Iain Duncan Smith’s plans in full.In a wide-ranging speech, Corbyn declared himself to be among friends and told delegates at the TUC conference that Labour would oppose Iain Duncan Smith’s plans in full.
Seeking to draw new distinctions between Labour and the Conservatives, Corbyn said: “They call us deficit deniers; they spend billions cutting taxes for the richest families and for the most profitable businesses. What they are is poverty deniers.Seeking to draw new distinctions between Labour and the Conservatives, Corbyn said: “They call us deficit deniers; they spend billions cutting taxes for the richest families and for the most profitable businesses. What they are is poverty deniers.
“They are ignoring the growing queues at food banks, they are ignoring the housing crisis they are cutting tax credits … let’s be clear: austerity is actually a political choice that this government is taking and they are imposing it on the most vulnerable and poorest in society.” “They are ignoring the growing queues at food banks, they are ignoring the housing crisis, they are cutting tax credits … Let’s be clear: austerity is actually a political choice that this government is taking and they are imposing it on the most vulnerable and poorest in society.”
He said Labour would vote against the government’s welfare reform bill on Tuesday night, a change in position when the party had previously abstained in an earlier Commons vote. He said Labour would vote against the bill on Tuesday night, a change in position when the party had abstained in an earlier Commons vote.
“We oppose the benefit cap. We oppose social cleansing. We will bring the welfare bill down by controlling rents and boosting wages, not by impoverishing families and socially cleansing our communities,” he said.“We oppose the benefit cap. We oppose social cleansing. We will bring the welfare bill down by controlling rents and boosting wages, not by impoverishing families and socially cleansing our communities,” he said.
Related: Bercow tells TUC unions deserve respectRelated: Bercow tells TUC unions deserve respect
Following a standing ovation as he entered the conference centre in Brighton, the new party leader brushed aside criticism that he has failed to recruit women to top jobs in the party. Following a standing ovation as he entered the conference centre in Brighton, the new party leader brushed aside criticism that he had failed to recruit women to top jobs in the party.
“After consideration and thought we have appointed a shadow cabinet with a majority of women members for the first time ever,” he said. Sixteen of the 31 shadow cabinet positions have gone to women.“After consideration and thought we have appointed a shadow cabinet with a majority of women members for the first time ever,” he said. Sixteen of the 31 shadow cabinet positions have gone to women.
Corbyn also disclosed that Labour has gained 30,000 new members since he was elected on Saturday and said that total party membership was at about a third of a million. “It is a very fast journey at the present time,” he said. Corbyn also disclosed that Labour had gained 30,000 new members since he was elected on Saturday and said that total party membership was at about a third of a million. “It is a very fast journey at the present time,” he said.
He also pledged to oppose the trade union reform bill and compared the Conservatives’ plans to those used by Gen Franco to quash dissent during his Spanish dictatorship. He also promised to oppose the trade union reform bill and compared the Conservatives’ plans to those used by General Franco to quash dissent during his Spanish dictatorship.
“I am a proud trade unionist. That is why we will fight this bill all the way, and if we win a majority in 2020, we are going to repeal this bill.” he said.“I am a proud trade unionist. That is why we will fight this bill all the way, and if we win a majority in 2020, we are going to repeal this bill.” he said.
Defending the role of unions, Corbyn added: “Those who criticise and attack trade unions should remember this: there are six million of us in this country, we are the largest voluntary organisation in Britain. Defending the role of unions, Corbyn added: “Those who criticise and attack trade unions should remember this: there are 6 million of us in this country. We are the largest voluntary organisation in Britain.”
Labour previously abstained on the welfare bill after the acting leader, Harriet Harman, ordered her MPs to abstain because she wanted to show that the party understood the public’s concerns about welfare. Corbyn said Labour would work hand-in-hand with the trade union movement and other groups to take on the Conservatives in the run-up to the next election. “[We will] campaign proudly alongside Britain’s greatest democratic organisations, the trade union movement,” he said. “Our shared vision will be delivered by shared campaigning.”
He said those who had founded the Labour party and the trade union movement had won votes for ordinary men and women and created the National Health Service. “We build on that in the way we do our policy,” he said, “we build on that in the way we develop our movement, we build on that in the way we inspire our people to come together for a better, more decent, more equal more fair and more just society. These things are not dreams these things are practical realities we, together, intend to achieve.”
Labour previously abstained on the welfare bill after the acting leader, Harriet Harman, ordered her MPs to do so because she wanted to show that the party understood the public’s concerns about welfare.
Related: David Davis attacks 'Franco-style' sections of Tories' trade union billRelated: David Davis attacks 'Franco-style' sections of Tories' trade union bill
At the general election the party was committed to keeping the benefit cap – the limit on how much a family can claim in out-of-work benefits – although it did say it would examine the case for regional variations.At the general election the party was committed to keeping the benefit cap – the limit on how much a family can claim in out-of-work benefits – although it did say it would examine the case for regional variations.
He also spelled out how he would democratise the party and called on every union branch and Labour party member to have a say in policymaking. Corbyn spelled out how he would democratise the party and called on every union branch and Labour party member to have a say in policymaking.
“People came forward to take part in this process, came forward, yes, because they were interested, yes, because they were hopeful but, yes, because they wanted to be part of democratic process where we make policy together.”“People came forward to take part in this process, came forward, yes, because they were interested, yes, because they were hopeful but, yes, because they wanted to be part of democratic process where we make policy together.”
He said he would end “top-down” policymaking. “I want everyone to put their views forward, every union branch, every party branch so we develop organically the strengths we all have the imagination we all have.” He said he would end “top-down” policymaking. “I want everyone to put their views forward, every union branch, every party branch so we develop organically the strengths we all have, the imagination we all have.”
The GMB general secretary, Paul Kenny, welcomed the speech, describing it as a ”staggeringly different approach to previous Labour party leaders that have addressed the TUC. There was no walkouts this time, it was standing room only. There is very much in Jeremy’s leadership for the working people of this country.” The GMB union’s general secretary, Paul Kenny, welcomed the speech, describing it as a “staggeringly different approach to previous Labour party leaders that have addressed the TUC”. He said: “There was no walkouts this time, it was standing room only. There is very much in Jeremy’s leadership for the working people of this country.”