Labour leader says he wants a ‘more open, more democratic party’ in speech ahead of Brighton conference opening

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Jeremy Corbyn has said his drive to give Labour members more control over the party will help him enter Downing Street.



He said plans to give his grassroots support a greater role will not only help to oust Theresa May it will also change the “system of inequality and injustice” in society.

The Labour leader, who arrived at the party’s conference in Brighton to the familiar “oh Jeremy Corbyn” chant, hit out at austerity measures that disproportionately hit women.

At the Labour women’s conference, which was taking place before the formal start of the full national event on Sunday, Corbyn said his proposed review of party democracy would ensure wider support for his policies.

He said he wants a “more open, more democratic party” with the “widest possible participation”.

Addressing the women’s conference, he said: “Wide participation in policy-making leads to more support for the policies we get, leads us to that movement that will bring about the end of this government but – beyond that – the end of the system of inequality and injustice in our society.”

Corbyn’s supporters secured an important victory in the party’s ruling national executive committee over changes to the leadership election rules.

In a compromise move, the NEC agreed to a proposal to cut the number of nominations a candidate needs to run from 15% to 10% of the party’s MPs and MEPs.

The change, which now needs to be approved by conference, is expected to make it easier for a leftwing candidate to secure a place on the ballot paper when the 68-year-old Corbyn steps down.

In a further strengthening of the left’s position, the party also increased the number of NEC delegates from members and unions as well as authorising the democracy review.

Corbyn hit out at targets including the Tories and Donald Trump as he addressed the women’s conference.

“It’s without question the Labour party is the party of women’s equality, no matter who else might try to claim that mantle,” he said. “I acknowledge that the Tories have a woman leader, but their policies have actually hurt women a lot.”

Corbyn hit out at the abuse targeted at women Labour MPs including Luciana Berger and the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott.

“The unbelievable and disgusting and disgraceful levels of abuse that women receive in public life is unacceptable – from anybody, to anybody – it has got to stop.”

In a message to some Labour supporters who have engaged in vitriolic attacks on women MPs from other wings of the party, he said: “All women who represent our party deserve our unqualified support.”

Before arriving at the conference centre, Corbyn played table tennis at a club that provides support for people with learning difficulties and refugees.

Meanwhile, the shadow women and equalities minister, Dawn Butler, launched a “period poverty campaign” with a promise to provide funding for free sanitary products for secondary schools, food banks and homeless shelters.

The Labour Party (@UKLabour) Just announced: We'll end #periodpoverty by funding free sanitary products in secondary schools, homeless shelters & food banks #Lab17 ↓ pic.twitter.com/NchPK764As

Butler told the Huffington Post: “It is a scandal that women on low incomes are having to deal with the additional burden of struggling to afford sanitary products, and young girls missing school once a month because they can’t afford sanitary protection.

“It’s not a woman’s choice to have a period; it is far from a luxury, and you can be sure that if men had periods this problem would be solved a long time ago.”

The proposal is based on a bill brought to the Scottish parliament by Labour MSP Monica Lennon, which places a legal duty on ministers to provide the “basic right” of universal free sanitary products.

The policy, which would cost an estimated £10m a year, would be funded by scrapping government education projects such as free schools.