I have just come back from Labour Party Conference in Liverpool where Keir Starmer set out how we will deliver the change our country desperately needs.
It begins with a very clear proposition- that the last 13 years of Conservative rule have left our country worse off, poorer, more divided and with public services crumbling.
That proposition has come from the response to a very simple question- what is better now than 13 years ago? It is genuinely hard to answer that question.
From underfunded local government to enormous NHS waiting lists, day to day life in Bury and Britain is not working ordinary people.
And yet, taxes are at their highest in more than 70 years. We’re all doing our bit to pay into the national pot, but those in charge are incapable of spending it wisely.
So, if it’s clear that the last 13 years have been a period of stagnation and waste, how will Labour deliver the change that is needed.
As Keir Starmer reflected in his speech, people are asking “why Labour?”
Well, the first thing to acknowledge is that we have a long-term plan of national renewal.
A plan that takes back our streets from the criminals that are far too often getting away with it.
A plan to create a Great British Energy company, where clean energy production in the UK can deliver good quality jobs and reduce bills for everyone.
A plan to rescue our NHS and make it a service that focuses more of keeping people healthy and independent for longer, rather than getting bogged down in a constant cycle of crisis and growing demand.
A plan that tears down barriers to opportunity and unleashes the potential of all, by getting the skills and education system fit for the future.
A plan to get Britain building and growing again, working with the private sector to boost investment to places like Bury and tackling the housing crisis.
This won’t be easy or quick. It is right to be honest about that.
Thirteen years of Conservative rule have done a number on our economy and public services.
But Keir Starmer is right, just offering sticking plaster solutions does not fix the fundamentals. It will be necessary to put these plans in place over a decade.
We heard similar language from the Prime Minister about long term decision making too, but how can the party who have caused these problems be the solution to them?
Far too little, far too late. It is increasingly clear, the Conservatives have run out of energy, run out of ideas and are running out of time.
The appeal to the people of Bury and Britain is: why accept more of same failure?
Believe in change that rebuilds Britain and gets our future back. That can only come with a Labour government.
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