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Labour's general secretary has given a powerful first speech since she was treated for breast cancer branding the NHS "under threat".

Shaven-headed Jennie Formby warned her chemotherapy would have cost $100,000 in the US making cancer a "death sentence" for the poor.

And Ms Formby - who revealed her diagnosis 6 months ago - thanked the army of NHS staff from nurses and doctors to cleaners and porters, saying: "They saved my life."

The powerful Jeremy Corbyn ally opened Labour's five-day conference in Brighton today in her first public appearance since her treatment earlier this year.

Receiving a standing ovation and flowers from Mr Corbyn, she said: "I also want to say a heart-felt thank you to all the incredible nurses and doctors, health care assistants, support workers, theatre staff, lab techs, porters, cleaners, and every other NHS worker who has given me such outstanding care, as they do for so many people every day.

(Image: Alamy Live News.)

"They saved my life.

"But we all know our NHS is under existential threat.

"The predators are circling and the privatisation we’ve already seen is nothing in comparison to the threat posed by a Johnson-Trump trade deal.

"In America, my cancer treatment would cost upwards of $100,000 – and that’s without reconstruction.

"For far too many people who just can't afford healthcare, a cancer or other health diagnosis can be a death sentence.

"But Labour won’t let that happen.

(Image: Alamy Live News.)

"Not only are we determined to stop what would be a disastrous No Deal Brexit , we’ve promised that the next Labour government will reverse the privatisation of our NHS and return our health service into expert public control.

She added: "I’m not quite there yet but the love and solidarity that I’ve experienced from across our party and our movement has been incredible and I can’t tell you how much it’s been appreciated by me and my family."

(Image: Alamy Live News.)

It comes two months after Ms Formby was embroiled in a huge public row over her treatment with deputy leader Tom Watson - who survived a bid to purge him today.

In a letter to the general secretary in July, Mr Watson slammed the party's response to a BBC Panorama film on anti-Semitism - claiming former staff had "axes to grind" - as "breaching all common standards of decency".

But in a searing reply obtained by the media, she said: "Traducing my reputation and publicly attacking me, when you know I am undergoing chemotherapy and am unable to respond in the media, is another example of the inappropriate way in which you choose to discuss this issue."

Panorama made claims that Ms Formby deleted e-mails relating to anti-Semitism cases.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: PA)

Today the general secretary admitted there was "more to do" but insisted Labour had "done more to modernise and streamline our disciplinary processes".

She added: "I know there's more to do but we have made things better and will continue to.

"We've strengthened our systems.

"We’ve launched our members’ booklet and webpage, ‘No Place for Antisemitism’ dealing with this vitally important issue.

"And we’re working on developing further educational materials to help our members to understand and challenge racism in all its forms wherever it raises its ugly head."

She suggested critics of Labour's response - widely branded inadequate by Jewish groups - should focus on the Tories.

(Image: Getty Images)

She said: "We've got the shame of an openly and unrepentant racist Prime Minister, presiding over a Tory party with many proven racists and Islamophobes amongst them, steadfastly refusing to take any action.

"But that doesn’t let us off the hook. We’re Labour and we’re better than that. We always have been and we won’t tolerate discrimination of any kind in our party."

Ms Formby spoke as Labour was gripped by two rows - over a failed ditching of Tom Watson as deputy, and over Labour's Brexit policy.

Today the general secretary blasted both Mr Watson for criticising the leadership - and those who tried to remove him.

She said: "It’s so important that every one of us, whether members or elected members, focuses 100% on defeating the Tories and their vicious policies that are causing so much damage."

As conference opened, Labour treasurer Diana Holland triumphantly denied claims that Labour had asked for a loan to cover its finances.

But an annual report confirmed the party has lost around 50,000 members, down to 518,659 in December 2018.

And Labour International delegate Kate Laycock slammed conference event organisers for taking "unacceptable" sponsorship money from firms including BP and Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

She fumed: "You wouldn't have events on lung cancer sponsored by Benson and Hedges. Why have events on the climate crisis sponsored by the climate killers?"

Meanwhile a row raged at the highest levels of Labour over Brexit as members pushed for the party to back Remain.

Jeremy Corbyn submitted a statement to the ruling NEC this morning that would have given Labour three months after winning an election to reach a Brexit deal.

There would then be a referendum. But Labour's stance in that referendum would only be settled in a special conference after more than three months.

(Image: PA)

Public splits emerged as pro-EU members said the position - not yet agreed by the NEC - was not enough.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry wore a blue outfit with a necklace of gold stars - a reference to the EU flag - at a rally in Brighton saying: "We all say no, no, no to Brexit."

Yet party chair Ian Lavery told Labour's conference: "The last nine years of austerity have caused misery to so many and our public services to be stretched to the brink.

"And that was inside of the EU.

"We cannot simply pretend like the Lib Dems that cancelling Brexit will make this go away. We cannot pretend like the Tories or Brexit Party that leaving will make everything better."