‘A NEW, very large, very active council housing building programme is what we will launch,’ the new leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn announced during his inaugural speech to the Party conference in Brighton yesterday.
During the speech Corbyn reiterated Labour’s opposition to the Tory Trade Union Bill that threatens the fundamental right to strike. He also spelt out that it is now Labour’s policy to bring in ‘a fully integrated nationalised railway that the people need.’
He said that the Tory government must do more to help the refugees. He called for the defence of ‘our NHS, health service free at the point of use, as a human right for all.’ He also called for the UK’s nuclear programme Trident not to be renewed, voicing his opposition to the war on Iraq ‘in defiance of the United Nations on a false pretence’ adding that ‘more bombs are not the solution in Syria’.
Addressing the conference he said: ‘I have been given a huge mandate by 59 per cent of the electorate who supported my campaign, I believe that it is a mandate for change. It is a vote for change in the way we do politics, in the Labour Party and in the country. A politics that is kinder, more inclusive, bottom up not top down, in every community and workplace, not just in Westminster.’
Later in his speech, he said: ‘The Tories talk about economic and family security being at risk from us the Labour Party. How dare these people talk about security for families and people in Britain. Where is the security of families shuttled around from one private rented flat to another on six months’ tenancies with children endlessly having to change schools?
‘ . . . There is no security for the 2.8 million households in Britain forced into debt by stagnating wages and the longest fall in living standards since records began. And that really is the nub of it; Tory economic failure. An Economy for the few and not for the many.’
He added: ‘With interest rates so low now is the time for public investment in our infrastructure.
‘Investment in council housing and affordable homes to rent and to buy. John Healy’s plan is for 100,000 council and housing association new homes a year to tackle the housing crisis.’
He concluded: ‘We want to rid Britain of injustice and create a fairer society.’
