Jezza: Power to the people
LABOUR AT BRIGHTON: LEADER SAYS PARTY IS ‘READY TO ROLL’ Corbyn throws down He vows ‘socialism gauntlet to May on poll for the 21st century’
JEREMY Corbyn was cheered yesterday as he said Labour is “primed and ready to roll” – and challenged bungling Theresa May to call another snap election.
The party leader told his Brighton conference that voters were ready for “something different and better”.
And as wife Laura Alvarez watched proudly during his barnstorming 73-minute speech – repeatedly interrupted by chants of “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” – he vowed a “socialism for the 21st century, for the many, not the few”. Mr Corbyn said: “The next Labour government will transform Britain by genuinely putting power in the hands of the people, the creative, compassionate and committed people of our country.” He added that he would “make public services accountable to communities, business accountable to the public” and renationalise utilities to “stop the public being ripped off ”.
To deafening applause, he promised to end the public sector pay cap, close the gender pay gap, tackle inequality, rebuild the NHS and invest in the economy. He vowed to bring in rent controls and attacked the “forced gentrification” of housing estates.
Highlighting Labour’s new-found sense of unity, he slammed the Tories’ botched Brexit negotiations and mocked the Prime Minister’s “strong and stable” election slogan.
Mr Corbyn said: “This is a deeply divided Government with no purpose beyond clinging to power. It’s Labour that’s now setting the agenda.”
Recalling how Mrs May made her decision to call her snap election during a hiking trip in Snowdonia, he added: “Take another walking holiday and make another impetuous decision. The Labour campaign machine is primed and ready to roll.”
And in a message to those who backed Labour on June 8, he said: “We offered an antidote to apathy and despair. Let everyone understand – we will not let you down.”