Tories blast 'failed ideas' from Jeremy Corbyn as allies praise 'inspiring' conference address

Pro-EU campaigners said Mr Corbyn had “thrown down the gauntlet” to the Tories on Brexit by piling pressure on Theresa May ahead of the Conservative party conference next week.

Meanwhile, business leaders praised “bright spots” in the keynote address but warned that Labour policies would amount to an “unprecedented overreach” into corporate governance. 

In his address to the Labour faithful in the Liverpool conference hall, Mr Corbyn said his party was “ready to run Britain” as he called on his warring party to unite and take on the Conservatives.

He reeled off a set of newly-announced policies on corporate reform, childcare and employment in the renewable energy sector - branding the package “a radical plan to rebuild and transform our country”.

And reaching out to voters who opted to quit the EU in 2016, he said: “We aim to get the best Brexit deal for jobs and living standards to underpin our plans to upgrade the economy and invest in every community and region.”

But Tory chair Brandon Lewis scoffed: “Jeremy Corbyn has shown at every turn he is unfit to govern.

“All he offers are failed ideas that didn’t work in the past and would leave working families paying the price with higher taxes, more debt and more waste – just like last time.”

However, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey - a close ally of the Labour leader - said: “That speech was inspiring.

“We heard a Labour leader draw a very clear line under the failed policies of the past, policies that have caused despair and division in our communities, and then set out a distinctive, different, positive Labour programme for the country.”

He added: “The game is up Theresa May. You and your party are a busted flush. If you have one shred of decency left, you’ll do the right thing - call a general election and give this country and its people the hope of a better future.”

Unison boss Dave Prentis meanwhile said the speech showed “Labour is a radical government in waiting, ready to unite our communities”.

BREXIT 'GAUNTLET'

In his speech, Mr Corbyn said he wanted to “reach out” to Theresa May as he promised Labour would support a Brexit deal that includes a customs union, no hard border in Ireland and rights protections.

It comes after Labour delegates agreed to keep a second EU referendum “on the table” if MPs vote down the final Brexit deal – including the option of staying in the EU.

Pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain said the Labour leader had “thrown down the gauntlet to the Tories”.

Labour MP David Lammy - speaking for the People’s Vote campaign for a second referendum – meanwhile said: “Labour are right to pledge to vote against either outcome or a blindfold Brexit, where we do not know the consequences.

“When we do that, and if Conservative MPs will not vote for a general election, then a People’s Vote is the only realistic and serious alternative to crashing out with no deal or risking our future with a blindfold Brexit.”

One Shadow Cabinet member told PoliticsHome: “We took five hours in Liverpool to achieve a consensus on Brexit. Theresa May has taken two years and got nowhere.”

But Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson fumed: "By refusing to unequivocally back campaigning for a final say on Brexit, Labour is committed to nothing."

And Labour MP Chris Leslie, a former Shadow Cabinet member and a critic of the leader, said the party “should not be enabling” any form of Brexit.

 

 

BUSINESS HITS BACK

Elsewhere, businesses attacked Labour plans to force big firms to hand shareholdings to staff and put water industry chiefs out of a job.

In his speech, Mr Corbyn took aim at “the whole edifice of greed-is-good deregulated financial capitalism” as he said “that the old way of running things isn’t working any more”.

But his comments earned a stiff rebuke from the British Chambers of Commerce, which warned of a “serious impact on business confidence” if Labour policies were put into practice.

“While there were some bright spots, Jeremy Corbyn missed a golden opportunity to extend an olive branch to British business, big and small alike,” said director general Dr Adam Marshall.

“Success depends on a partnership between business and government, not dictation or dogma,” he added.

“Businesses will rightly be asking how all of Labour’s proposals will be funded – and the answer cannot be to treat the businesses that drive our towns and cities as a cash cow.”

The Confederation of British Industry meanwhile urged Labour to “invite business into the tent”.

“Continual public barbs and backward-facing policy are deterring entrepreneurs and investors, at a time when we need them most,” said director Carolyn Fairbairn.

"Policy built collaboratively will help build a fair, progressive and pro-enterprise Britain. Policy built on ideology and diktat will do the opposite.

“They will harm those who can least afford it by driving down investment, productivity and pay. 

“There is much common ground between business and Labour, now let’s build on it.”

'FIZZING WITH IDEAS'

MP allies of Mr Corbyn were generally positive about the speech, while some sceptic Labour figures also praised the address.

 

 

 

 

 A Labour source told PoliticsHome: “At Conference, we’ve shown that we are fizzing with ideas, creating genuine excitement about our plan to rebuild our country for the many not the few.

“I imagine it will be night and day with next week’s Tory conference, where their divisions and lack of ideas will be on full display.”

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