Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has criticised “Tory sleaze” and companies’ tax-evasion as she set out plans to boost workers’ rights at this year’s Labour conference, taking place from 25-29 September. The conference has already been eventful, with Kier Starmer’s controversial rule changes giving MPs more power over leadership elections taking effect after last minute support from trade union Unison.
Rayner has spoke openly regarding the opposition at this year’s conference, stating there is a need to “stamp out the Tory sleaze that has polluted our politics and corrupted our democracy”, referencing that the government has been “taking 1,400 out of the pockets of a nurse while over £2bn of taxpayers’ money has been dished out to Tory donors and mates of ministers”. The Labour party has said that within the first 100 days of a Labour government, they would lay the groundwork for sector-wide fair pay, starting in social care.
Rayner has also reportedly referred to Tory ministers as “a bunch of scum”, which she has refused to apologise for, despite backlash from Conservatives and disapproval from Kier Starmer. Rayner stated, "I will apologise when Boris apologises for saying the comments he has made", referring to comments from the Prime Minister which she has labelled as homophobic, racist, and misogynistic. Speaking to BBC’s Andrew Marr show, Starmer said, "Angela and I take a different approach and that is not the language I would have used" but has said he will not ask her to apologise, and that it is a matter for her.
Starmer himself has faced backlash for his overhaul of the leadership election system, which will prioritise MPs' contributions over Labour members. The rule changes will ensure that candidates need more MP nominations than before (specifically double what the threshold was previously) to make it to the leadership shortlist, which some have argued will make the shortlist less diverse. Grassroots movement Momentum has said that the changes are “a needless self-inflicted blow to democracy in our party, delivered against the opposition of Labour members.”
As well as criticism from within his party, Starmer has faced complaints from the opposition, but in this case for defending the rights of trans people. The Labour leader called for further legal protection of trans rights when asked about Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who was not in attendance at the conference after making comments claiming that “only women have a cervix”. Starmer stated that it was wrong to make a claim like that, which prompted Tory Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, to call Starmer’s comments a “total denial of scientific fact”. Trans issues campaign group, Trans Actual, said that concerning Javid’s comments, they were “disgusted to see [the health secretary] denying the reality of trans men and non-binary people.”
The conference also saw continued support for ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn. Footage from the event shows Labour’s new general secretary David Evans, asking “everyone knows why they joined Labour, what was it for you?” which prompted the reply “Jeremy Corbyn” from audience members, followed by cheers. During Corbyn’s time as leader, Labour saw a surge in membership as people wanted to be involved with party issues and have their say in its future. The rule changes regarding the leadership election process will have drastically altered members' ability to contribute to the party in this way moving forward.
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