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At-a-glance: Labour conference At-a-glance: Labour conference
(9 minutes later)
THE BIG ISSUETHE BIG ISSUE
Operation Fightback, as the party has branded its conference, gets fully under way in Brighton on Monday with tough talk about cracking down on bankers' bonuses from chancellor Alistair Darling. However that message faces a battle to dominate the day's agenda with the papers full of polls, talk of alternative Labour leaders and Andrew Marr's question to Gordon Brown about prescription painkillers. Operation Fightback, as the party has branded its conference, got fully under way in Brighton on Monday with tough talk about cracking down on bankers' bonuses from chancellor Alistair Darling. However that message faced a battle to dominate the day's agenda with the papers full of polls, talk of alternative Labour leaders and Andrew Marr's question to Gordon Brown about prescription painkillers.
MONDAY'S AGENDA CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
MORNING: Chancellor Alistair Darling promised legislation to put an end to bank bonuses causing excessive risk taking. Bonuses should not be paid out automatically every year, he told the conference, but tied to long term performance and clawed back if companies failed to deliver. class="inlineText" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8277838.stm">Darling to act on bonuses
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government would maintain cold winter payments for those on low incomes at current levels and pledged to expand job creation schemes. class="inlineText" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8278280.stm">Protect investment, ministers urge
Prosperity and Work Debate: Chancellor Alistair Darling Energy secretary Ed Miliband claimed Labour were the "real greens" in British politics. He promised action to force energy firms to offer discounted rates to their poorest customers and simplify their tariffs.
AFTERNOON: Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said the Conservatives were still "hated" by many people in Scotland. He attacked First Minister Alex Salmond's independence referendum plan and claimed the SNP administration had "totally mishandled" the release of the Lockerbie bomber. class="inlineText" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8278045.stm">Scottish referendum plans attacked
Prosperity and Work Debate: Lord Mandelson and Yvette Cooper Creating Sustainable Communities Debate: Hillary Benn, Ed Miliband, Lord Adonis and Ben Bradshaw Former health secretary Alan Milburn urged Labour to ditch Trident and ID cards to prevent cuts to the NHS budget. class="inlineText" href="/2/hi/in_depth/829163.stm">'Axe Trident to fund NHS - Milburn
Labour ministers have been advised to get more comfortable talking about the institution of marriage and relationships. Labour 'must talk about marriage'
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson was initially refused entry to the Labour Party conference in Brighton because of a problem with his security pass. A security guard called a police sergeant to verify his credentials. Lord Mandelson had to wait 10 minutes at the conference's security entrance before he was allowed to enter. Mandelson denied conference entry
Chancellor Alistair Darling has urged Labour to "come out fighting", comparing his party to a football team which has "lost the will to live". Chancellor urges Labour to fight
Lord Mandelson, having managed to gain entry to the conference, told a Sunday fringe meeting Labour must show it is "up for the fight" at the next general election. He said there was a "chasm" between their party and the Tories. "That is something I welcome, it excites me, it doesn't daunt me". We're up for fight
Gordon Brown told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme he will "ban the old bonus system" and force banks to act in a more responsible manner. "We are going to clean up the system once and for all," he said. The measures will "represent the toughest action of any country in the world." Brown to 'ban old bonus system'
SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING? The Tobacco Retailers Alliance stand
It's a good job the people on the Tobacco Retailers' Alliance are not the paranoid type, otherwise they might begin to think Labour had it in for them. The lobby group showed up at the party's conference to campaign against fresh government restrictions on the sale of cigarettes, only to find they had been placed under a sign saying The Killers (the indie band are forthcoming attraction at the Brighton centre). "It is not very helpful," says a member of the Alliance, gazing up at the sign, but he does not think it was deliberate. "The stand opposite have got Dizzee Rascal", he adds.
PULLING POWER?PULLING POWER?
Delegates are being offered the chance to have their photo taken with Tony Blair - if they pay a £180 surcharge for a conference ticket. Standard £240 tickets for the Surrey Regional Economic Summit, in Canada on 6 October, include the opportunity to listen to the former prime minister deliver a lunchtime address. But if they fork out for a £420 premium ticket, delegates are guaranteed a photograph with the former Labour leader and a better seat for his speech. Organisers are expecting a sell-out. But if that sounds a bit steep, Labour candidates and elected representatives can pose for a snap with Gordon Brown here in Brighton on Wednesday for free...Delegates are being offered the chance to have their photo taken with Tony Blair - if they pay a £180 surcharge for a conference ticket. Standard £240 tickets for the Surrey Regional Economic Summit, in Canada on 6 October, include the opportunity to listen to the former prime minister deliver a lunchtime address. But if they fork out for a £420 premium ticket, delegates are guaranteed a photograph with the former Labour leader and a better seat for his speech. Organisers are expecting a sell-out. But if that sounds a bit steep, Labour candidates and elected representatives can pose for a snap with Gordon Brown here in Brighton on Wednesday for free...
YOU SAY FIGHTBACK...YOU SAY FIGHTBACK...
Everywhere you look in the Brighton conference centre you see the slogan Operation Fightback. A catchy phrase for Labour's looming election battle perhaps, but has anyone at party HQ bothered to enter the phrase into Google? If they did, they might get a surprise. The top suggested link is "operation fightback bnp". No mention of the Labour Party. Oops.Everywhere you look in the Brighton conference centre you see the slogan Operation Fightback. A catchy phrase for Labour's looming election battle perhaps, but has anyone at party HQ bothered to enter the phrase into Google? If they did, they might get a surprise. The top suggested link is "operation fightback bnp". No mention of the Labour Party. Oops.
GREEN AMBITIONGREEN AMBITION
The Green Party have raided the piggy bank to pay for some very prominent billboards informing delegates Labour is Old News in Brighton. Party leader Caroline Lucas is hoping to become the party's first MP in the Brighton Pavillion seat.The Green Party have raided the piggy bank to pay for some very prominent billboards informing delegates Labour is Old News in Brighton. Party leader Caroline Lucas is hoping to become the party's first MP in the Brighton Pavillion seat.
CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
And you are??? Business Secretary Lord Mandelson was initially refused entry to the Labour Party conference in Brighton because of a problem with his security pass. A security guard called a police sergeant to verify his credentials. Lord Mandelson had to wait 10 minutes at the conference's security entrance before he was allowed to enter. Mandelson denied conference entry
Chancellor Alistair Darling has urged Labour to "come out fighting", comparing his party to a football team which has "lost the will to live". Chancellor urges Labour to fight
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, having managed to gain entry to the conference, told a Sunday fringe meeting Labour must show it is "up for the fight" at the next general election. He said there was a "chasm" between their party and the Tories. "That is something I welcome, it excites me, it doesn't daunt me". We're up for fight
Gordon Brown told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme he will "ban the old bonus system" and force banks to act in a more responsible manner. "We are going to clean up the system once and for all," he said. The measures will "represent the toughest action of any country in the world." Brown to 'ban old bonus system'
COMPLIMENTS ALL ROUND?COMPLIMENTS ALL ROUND?
Lord Mandelson told an audience at the Progress fringe meeting the ministers on the panel were "fresh faced" and he had had to renew his own gym membership "to keep up with them". Complimenting the line-up of Tessa Jowell, David Miliband and Andy Burnham on their appearance - he looked over at the chief secretary of the Treasury and quipped: "And there's Liam as well." Mr Byrne took it well.Lord Mandelson told an audience at the Progress fringe meeting the ministers on the panel were "fresh faced" and he had had to renew his own gym membership "to keep up with them". Complimenting the line-up of Tessa Jowell, David Miliband and Andy Burnham on their appearance - he looked over at the chief secretary of the Treasury and quipped: "And there's Liam as well." Mr Byrne took it well.
SNIPPETS
• Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said Labour should try and achieve what the Tories did in 1992 and force a shock election victory. Mr Hain said the party should mount an "under the radar" campaign on the doorstep to prevent Tory leader David Cameron beaming his "smarmy smile" from the steps of Number 10.
• Ed Miliband, who is co-ordinating Labour's next election manifesto, urged the party to opt for a "bold" programme to win the next election. The energy and climate change secretary acknowledged it had been a "hard year" for Labour and anyone associated with politics.
• Business Minister Pat McFadden told delegates job creation would be at the heart of Labour's manifesto, but added it was "not a time for a string of spending promises".
• Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan made his final party conference speech as Labour's leader in Wales, but refused to name the date of his departure. He said he would give further details about his departure "before too long" following speculation he would use his conference speech to say he is standing down.
BROWN SEEKS TO LIFT SPIRITSBROWN SEEKS TO LIFT SPIRITS
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Gordon Brown: ''Let's win the fight''Gordon Brown: ''Let's win the fight''