Labour Party Conference 2009
Nick at a Community and GMB-run rally for workers from the Corus Steel plant in Redcar
This week, at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Nick spoke at two fringe events. At the Association of North East Councils meeting Nick and the rest of the panel discussed the push to grow our region’s economy around green energy and sustainable technologies. Later in the week Nick joined the Community Union, the G.M.B. and others to help secure a future for the workers at the Corus steel plant in Teesside.
Both events reflected an emerging choice facing the UK. The Labour Government is determined to step in to protect jobs during the economic downturn, while still investing in future green industries. The Conservative and Liberal Democrat proposals to cut investment immediately would make the recession deeper and the recovery longer, while threatening the public services people need.
The Labour Government has changed this country for the better over the past 12 years. In his speech in Brighton, the Prime Minister listed these achievements. From the winter fuel allowance, the creation of Sure Start and the shortest hospital waiting times in history, to the cancelling of overseas debt and the first ever Climate Change Act, there are real achievements of which we can be proud.
...and with Colombian agricultural union leader Aidee Moreno at an event organised by Justice for Colombia
The Government is now setting out the choices that will continue to improve Britain for the future. Last week saw new pledges on free childcare for under-2s; an end to charges for parking at hospitals; quicker results for cancer tests; free care at home for elderly people who need it most; and a People’s Bank organised through the Post Office network. All these changes will be underpinned by a plan to set out the Government’s approach to debt reduction in law.
Labour’s proposal to bring down the national debt over time will protect jobs now while continuing to offer improvements to the public services people depend on. There are real choices to be made here and, as Gordon said to the conference, it’s not about us, it’s about you.