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General election: Labour sets out its plans for lifelong learning – live news General election: Labour sets out its plans for lifelong learning – live news
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson prepares to chair Cobra meeting on floodsJeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson prepares to chair Cobra meeting on floods
I‘ve been watching Angela Rayner and Jeremy Corbyn speak in a campaign event at Blackpool football club (not that you’d know it, as the blinds are pulled down on the picture windows behind us overlooking the pitch).
Corbyn made the arguments for Labour’s lifelong learning policies, including six years of free adult education, which he was here to launch.
He was given a standing ovation by the activists here, and his promise that the NHS is “not for sale” in a trade deal with the US under a Labour government was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
But the star turn was Rayner, who talked about the importance of adult education in her own life, after she left school at 16 to look after her son. Under Labour’s policy, she said, “whether you left school with no GCSEs or 10, your ability to pay or your willingness to take on debt will not determine whether you get the education you need”.
She skewered politicians’ habit of parroting the idea that vocational qualifications are as important as academic ones, or that the UK can simply copy Germany.
And she had another nice line that “poverty is not just about being penniless, it is about being powerless”, because workers often don’t have the opportunity to train.
Just anecdotally, the atmosphere is warm here, but the audience doesn’t seem quite as big, as young or as lively as the most memorable Labour events I went to during the 2017 campaign. Back then, some Corbyn fans were coming from miles around just to get a glimpse of their man.
Labour campaigners I chatted to here said they were finding a lot of “undecideds” on the doorstep. Perhaps enthusiasm will build as we get closer to 12 December? We’ll see.
Corbyn says there was a time when being a further education lecturer was a good job. Now he meets many of them on zero-hours contracts, with multiple jobs. They are stressed, he says. He says they come into teaching because they love the job, but many leave because of the stress. There is something going badly wrong, he says.Corbyn says there was a time when being a further education lecturer was a good job. Now he meets many of them on zero-hours contracts, with multiple jobs. They are stressed, he says. He says they come into teaching because they love the job, but many leave because of the stress. There is something going badly wrong, he says.
Q: Does Labour still support HS2, even though it would now reportedly cost £88bn? (See 9.53am.)Q: Does Labour still support HS2, even though it would now reportedly cost £88bn? (See 9.53am.)
Corbyn says he does not know how accurate this report. Labour’s priority would be investment in rail and bus infrastructure north of Birmingham. Corbyn says he does not know how accurate this report is. Labour’s priority would be investment in rail and bus infrastructure north of Birmingham.
Q: Don’t you need Nigel Farage and the Brexit party to keep standing and split the Brexit vote in Labour marginals?Q: Don’t you need Nigel Farage and the Brexit party to keep standing and split the Brexit vote in Labour marginals?
Rayner says it is clear now that if you want a different future for this country, you should vote Labour. If you want a hard-right government, vote for the Conservatives or the Brexit party. She says they are the same.Rayner says it is clear now that if you want a different future for this country, you should vote Labour. If you want a hard-right government, vote for the Conservatives or the Brexit party. She says they are the same.
She says she is disgusted about what Boris Johnson has said about communities like hers.She says she is disgusted about what Boris Johnson has said about communities like hers.
She does not fear the Brexit party or Boris Johnson. “Bring it on.”She does not fear the Brexit party or Boris Johnson. “Bring it on.”
Corbyn says people in Britain voted leave and remain. Labour’s strategy is to bring people together.Corbyn says people in Britain voted leave and remain. Labour’s strategy is to bring people together.
If the election results in a Tory government supported by Nigel Farage, you will have over-sized classrooms, people in debt and people being denied educational chances.If the election results in a Tory government supported by Nigel Farage, you will have over-sized classrooms, people in debt and people being denied educational chances.
A national education service will be Labour’s legacy and its gift to the British people, Corbyn says.A national education service will be Labour’s legacy and its gift to the British people, Corbyn says.
Lack of education is “such a waste”.Lack of education is “such a waste”.
He says he is trying to bring people together. Farage and Johnson only offer “division, division, division”. And they would put the NHS at risk with a trade deal with the US, which would also threaten the environment and our clean food.He says he is trying to bring people together. Farage and Johnson only offer “division, division, division”. And they would put the NHS at risk with a trade deal with the US, which would also threaten the environment and our clean food.
Q: What is your policy for apprenticeships?Q: What is your policy for apprenticeships?
Rayner says the party will be talking about its policy at its manifesto launch.Rayner says the party will be talking about its policy at its manifesto launch.
Angela Rayner says the Labour manifesto will be about delivering for everyone. It will not put ideology first, she says.Angela Rayner says the Labour manifesto will be about delivering for everyone. It will not put ideology first, she says.
Jeremy Corbyn is now taking questions.Jeremy Corbyn is now taking questions.
Q: If you were chairing Cobra on flooding, what measures would you be taking?Q: If you were chairing Cobra on flooding, what measures would you be taking?
Corbyn says the floods are appalling. He was in the Don Valley at the weekend. People are in a very difficult situation.Corbyn says the floods are appalling. He was in the Don Valley at the weekend. People are in a very difficult situation.
He says he would have chaired Cobra earlier to release Bellwin money. Councils should get that money immediately.He says he would have chaired Cobra earlier to release Bellwin money. Councils should get that money immediately.
He also says he would do a lot more on flood defences. We are getting more flooding, he says. He says people in the Don Valley were telling him they were concerned about the quality of dredging of streams flowing into the Don.He also says he would do a lot more on flood defences. We are getting more flooding, he says. He says people in the Don Valley were telling him they were concerned about the quality of dredging of streams flowing into the Don.
He says Labour would also make dealing with flood protection a statutory duty for fire brigades.He says Labour would also make dealing with flood protection a statutory duty for fire brigades.
Q: Who do you think was responsible for the cyber-attack on the Labour website?Q: Who do you think was responsible for the cyber-attack on the Labour website?
Corbyn says this happened yesterday. It was very serious. But, as far as Labour is aware, none of its data was lost. But, if this is a sign of things to come, he feels “very nervous”. He says a previous cyber-attack on the NHS was dangerous.Corbyn says this happened yesterday. It was very serious. But, as far as Labour is aware, none of its data was lost. But, if this is a sign of things to come, he feels “very nervous”. He says a previous cyber-attack on the NHS was dangerous.
He says the attack has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, who are investigating.He says the attack has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, who are investigating.
Q: You say you will pay for some of this with VAT on private school fees. Does that mean you won’t abolish private schools?Q: You say you will pay for some of this with VAT on private school fees. Does that mean you won’t abolish private schools?
Corbyn says the party will finalise its policy at a meeting this weekend. People will love the manifesto, he says.Corbyn says the party will finalise its policy at a meeting this weekend. People will love the manifesto, he says.
Q: Do you think the Tories will benefit from the Brexit party standing down in Tory seats? And what will happen if the Brexit party stand in Labour-held seats?Q: Do you think the Tories will benefit from the Brexit party standing down in Tory seats? And what will happen if the Brexit party stand in Labour-held seats?
Corbyn says there is an alliance between Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. That is a threat to the NHS, he says.Corbyn says there is an alliance between Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. That is a threat to the NHS, he says.
He says he is not interested in parlour games about who might stand where. He is putting forward a manifesto that would create a fairer society, he says. He says he approaches elections in a positive frame of mind. Hundreds of people are actively supporting the party, and giving it money, he says.He says he is not interested in parlour games about who might stand where. He is putting forward a manifesto that would create a fairer society, he says. He says he approaches elections in a positive frame of mind. Hundreds of people are actively supporting the party, and giving it money, he says.
Rayner says Labour will also ensure workers can get time off to study.Rayner says Labour will also ensure workers can get time off to study.
Rayner says Labour will also offer maintenance support to people in further education.Rayner says Labour will also offer maintenance support to people in further education.
Rayner is now summing up Labour’s offer.Rayner is now summing up Labour’s offer.
Back in Blackpool Angela Rayner is still speaking about Labour’s plans.Back in Blackpool Angela Rayner is still speaking about Labour’s plans.
This is from my colleague Rowena Mason.This is from my colleague Rowena Mason.
And here is our story on it.And here is our story on it.
Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, is speaking now.Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, is speaking now.
She says she has seen four education secretaries since she took up her post.She says she has seen four education secretaries since she took up her post.
She says Corbyn was one of the first people in the party to call for a cradle-to-grave education system. So it is fitting he is here, she says.She says Corbyn was one of the first people in the party to call for a cradle-to-grave education system. So it is fitting he is here, she says.
She says her life was transformed by adult education. When her friends were sitting their GCSEs, she was thinking about her new baby. Adult education gave her a second chance. She enrolled in a sign language course, and then a counselling course, and that led to volunteering and then a job. Then she went on to get a qualification in care. Education helped her, but also her son, she says. She says this experience encouraged her to become a union rep.She says her life was transformed by adult education. When her friends were sitting their GCSEs, she was thinking about her new baby. Adult education gave her a second chance. She enrolled in a sign language course, and then a counselling course, and that led to volunteering and then a job. Then she went on to get a qualification in care. Education helped her, but also her son, she says. She says this experience encouraged her to become a union rep.
Corbyn says the Tories should apologise for the way they have cut eduction funding since 2010.Corbyn says the Tories should apologise for the way they have cut eduction funding since 2010.