Jeremy Corbyn will not back an election until a no-deal Brexit is ruled out
The Labour leader made clear his party is ready for an election and the audience was baying for one, shouting: “Johnson out.” But he strongly suggested he would not table a vote of confidence in Johnson until no deal has been firmly taken off the table, either if a Brexit deal passes or the prime minister has requested an extension from the EU. This was later confirmed by a Labour spokesman.
“This crisis can only be settled with a general election. That election needs to take place as soon as this government’s threat of a disastrous no deal is taken off the table,” Corbyn said.
Election first, referendum second
Corbyn set out his plan to win an election then negotiate a Brexit deal within three months, and hold a second referendum within six months without saying which way Labour would campaign.
This appeared to squash the idea that Corbyn, as a temporary prime minister, could push for a second referendum and get Brexit sorted before a general election to focus on domestic issues – which is promoted by some MPs, including a few of his allies. A Labour spokesman later reiterated that the policy is election first, referendum second.
Corbyn will fight hard against Johnson’s claim to be anti-establishment
Corbyn showed how he would fight an election as the anti-establishment candidate, rubbishing Johnson’s claims of being the voice of the people against parliament.
“In a shameless bid to turn reality on its head, Boris Johnson’s born-to-rule Tories are now claiming to be the voice of the people,” he said. “A political party that exists to protect the establishment is pretending to be anti-establishment. Johnson and his wealthy friends are not only on the side of the establishment; they are the establishment.”
A new publicly owned drug company would take on big pharma
Corbyn announced a major new policy of a state-owned generic drug manufacturer to supply cheaper medicines to the NHS. This would stop big pharmaceutical companies charging the NHS over the odds for medicines.
“We will redesign the system to serve public health – not private wealth – using compulsory licensing to secure generic versions of patented medicines,” he said.
“We’ll tell the drugs companies that if they want public research funding then they’ll have to make their drugs affordable for all. And we will create a new publicly owned generic drugs manufacturer to supply cheaper medicines to our NHS, saving our health service money and saving lives.”
Radical domestic policies are firmly on the agenda
Corbyn ran through a series of big, bold policies announced by his shadow ministers at the conference including: “Crossrail for the north”; nationalising the rail, postal and water industries plus the National Grid; free prescriptions; free personal care for the elderly; and a net-zero emissions target for 2030.
The policies go even further than Labour’s 2017 general election manifesto and may come with a large price tag. But Labour is calculating that people will be won over by ideas to make their lives easier if the tax burden falls on the very wealthiest and businesses. The party says its manifesto will be fully costed so the books are balanced.
