The speech made by Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in Liverpool on 27 September 2026.
Thank you, Conference, it’s great to be here at my first conference as your Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
I mean what a year it has been. A lot has happened since I last stood here for the hustings last year.
But some things, conference, never change. I’m still raving after my DJ set at the LGBT disco last night. People are still trying to get hold of Oasis tickets, me included. And Andy Burnham’s still on the front cover of the New Statesman.
But the biggest constant of all? You, our brilliant members, who embody the mission of this movement and support us every day.
That same spirit of service runs through our General Secretary too. Thank you to Hollie Ridley for your leadership. You’ve served this party and movement relentlessly for 14 years and made a huge contribution to our general election victory. We’re forever grateful. Thank you, Hollie.
And to Joe Fortune – our new General Secretary – I can’t wait to get stuck in working with you working as we build towards the next election. Joe – like me, you have big shoes to fill – shoes worn by strong, working-class, pioneering women of our movement. And in Angela’s case, make that many pairs.
And conference, can we take a moment to thank Angela Rayner for being a brilliant Deputy Leader for more than five years – from opposition into government. She continues to inspire us.
Conference, when I asked for your support last year, I promised I would be your voice at the top of our party. I said I would help us get the politics right, to show our values more strongly, and to give people a reason to believe and trust in Labour.
I’ve taken my ‘Lucy Listens’ right across the country, which has helped to shape what we’re doing in government. It’s been a time of big change, but we’ve come out stronger and more united. Our mission remains; hope and optimism.
Because we believe that life can be better, that things need – and can – change. That’s what progressive politics has always been about. It’s why we are the party of hope.
Out of the ruins of the Second World War, we didn’t accept that devastation meant we couldn’t be radical. Instead, our labour forefathers created our beloved NHS and the welfare state.
In the 1960s, we didn’t accept that the white heat of technology was a threat, we saw it as an opportunity to give rise to huge social mobility and progress.
And in the face of the Tory recession of the 1990s, we didn’t accept those who said that unemployment and low pay were a price worth paying, we introduced the national minimum wage, statutory maternity pay and the New Deal for young people.
That’s what the Labour Party does.
And today, in the face of difficult economic and global political headwinds, we’re determined to fix the big challenges politics has ducked for too long. We look forward, with optimism and hope. Our heads held high, our shoulders back. Our values guiding us every step of the way.
That’s what you, our members and activists – the life and soul of our movement – have been helping us to deliver.
And you should take huge pride in what you have helped this Labour government to deliver.
Free school meals for over 3 million children.
Day one rights to sick pay for workers.
Rail back into public control. And local buses too – one for Andy.
We’ve ended exploitative zero hours contracts.
We’ve lifted the two-child benefit cap, lifting half a million children out of poverty.
Brought in the biggest social housing programme in a generation.
Recognised the state of Palestine.
Shown global leadership in Ukraine, and the Middle East and beyond.
We’ve reset relations with Europe.
We’ve reduced waiting times and recruited more teachers.
Set up Great British energy and raced towards clean power.
We’ve ended no fault evictions.
Boosted pay for the lowest paid and cut VAT from energy bills.
And – yes – conference, we’ve finally ended hereditary peers sitting in the House of Lords.
These are good Labour things we should shout about.
But, conference, doing all this and more, isn’t enough on its own. It clearly hasn’t been. The elections this year told us a different story. We lost hundreds of great Labour representatives across the UK. There’s no sugar-coating it. We let you down and you deserved better. And I’m sorry.
Because we also have to make the argument and win it. We are in a big battle of ideas, a battle of values, a battle for attention. It’s no good anymore just diligently getting on with the job. We have to show purpose, underpinned by values.
And that’s what Andy Burnham’s leadership is giving us – showing us the why, not just the what. Making and winning the big arguments. Leadership, purpose and values.
Let’s seize this opportunity we have with this second hearing, to really punch home that Labour story. I’m really excited about what’s in store, I hope you are too?
Because conference, we all know that the extremes of British politics are seeking to tear our communities apart, to pit neighbour against neighbour, thriving on fear and division, but won’t let them win.
Nigel Farage wants us to all blame immigrants for our country’s ills. He wants a race to the bottom on workers’ rights and deregulation. Especially for his Billionaire crypto mates. He believes in trickle-down economics, that never actually trickles down.
Conference, he’s just a modern-day love child of Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatcher. And quite bizarrely, for someone who seems to hate foreigners so much, he really does love their money, doesn’t he?
And as for the Tories … well, they seem somewhere between an identity crisis and collective amnesia.
But we won’t forget – the British people won’t forget – the damage they did in 14 years of government. They left this country worse off, our public services hollowed out, and now they’ve got the nerve to lecture us on the crises they created. They left the prisons completely full. They tanked the economy. They left 5 million people on the NHS waiting lists. Forgive me I’m not going to be taking any lessons from them.
Our opponents are locked in the arguments of the past, while we look to the future. And that’s how we’ll win, and I am confident there’s a majority in this country who agree.
Conference, I’m also here today as your Education Secretary, your Labour Education Secretary. And what an enormous honour that is. It’s definitely the best job in government.
Almost my entire family are in education – many of them are here today too – so I get no shortage of advice. I’m sure I’ll get full written feedback on my speech later as well.
Our Labour values of opportunity for all, of a better life, of progress and advancement are channelled through our collective commitment to education. It’s the passport to success, to fulfilment, to life.
Education is hope.
In many ways, I lead the Department of Hope.
Conference, there’s also a big argument that we’ve got win in education too. It’s an argument about the future vs the past.
It was exactly 30 years ago at this conference that Tony Blair declared the Labour Party’s three priorities were education, education, education.
That declaration, that commitment, drove significant and sustained improvement. Not only through our school system but with the establishment of the great Sure Start programme. We transformed millions of lives and gave a whole new generation new hope of new possibilities.
That’s the power of a Labour mission for education. We won the argument then and we will win it again.
Our promise that every child matters; our belief that no young person should be left behind, our commitment that everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
And that in this fast-changing, technological age, we have a duty to equip young people with the knowledge, know-how and skills they need to thrive.
Not a one-size-fits-all system that sets some up for failure by only offering a narrow view of what good is, nor one stuck in the past, unwilling and unable to adapt.
Conference, our schools are now some of the best in the world and we should celebrate that. But we can also recognise that it’s not working for everyone.
Too many left behind, without the passport they need to go further. The disadvantage gap remains stubbornly wide. The gap between regions is widening. A crisis in special educational needs support.
And at the last general election, 1.5 million children were persistently absent from school.
And today, over 1 million young people – all educated under the Tories – not in education, training or employment.
These are the warnings.
Literacy and numeracy will always be the core, and we’re doing internationally well in these areas. But the Head of PISA also said that too many young people think school is a waste of time and don’t feel they belong. It’s become a straitjacket for too many.
And this is what happens when children and young people lose hope. And hope matters.
Now look conference, you might have seen Michael Gove and his acolytes criticising us. He said I was bringing back stupid.
Well, I’ll tell you what’s stupid, only choosing to see one-side of the story. I’ll tell what’s stupid, being stuck in the past whilst the world changes fast. And I’ll tell you what’s stupid, claiming to be evidence-led while saying you’ve had enough of the experts.
Michael Gove wants all the plaudits for the good bits but wants to take no responsibility for the bad. I think Ofsted would say he Requires Improvement. Although of course under the new framework he’d need attention. Let’s not give him anymore of that because he loves it too much.
We’re not bringing back stupid, conference – we’re bringing back hope.
A Department for Hope with a prospectus for change.
If a young person believes that education will open doors for them, they’ll turn up. They work hard. But when they don’t, they check out.
We have to be relevant as well as outstanding. More pathways not fewer, more choice not less. Taking down barriers, not putting them up. Engaging not disconnecting. Closing the gap between the classroom and work. Always high standards but looking to the future not the past.
That’s why I am putting technical and vocational qualifications on a par with academic ones.
We’re introducing new vocational GCSEs alongside T Levels and V Levels and new apprenticeships post 16.
High quality, high esteem, underpinned by national standards in subjects in demand for the future economy. I’m ending the snobbery towards technical education.
Not a two-tier system, far from it, but technical excellence alongside academic excellence too.
More practical assessment in practical subjects, who knew! And strong oracy and speaking skills throughout. And more work experience.
Because in the AI age, high levels of knowledge and skills will be even more important, but there will be some jobs that AI will never be able to do either.
We will change how schools are measured to incentivise that broader offer.
We’ll expand access to enrichment activities – from music groups to debating societies, to engineering and sports.
We’ll go further on the Curriculum Review to allow more time to go deeper and for richer experiences.
We’ll tackle the SEND crisis, with early intervention and help, more investment to support children, families and schools. Reforming the system so it’s refocused on inclusion and improving outcomes for children.
And beyond schools, we’ll build on the legacy of Sure Start, giving every child the best start in life.
And let’s not underestimate what a gamechanger we’re delivering here – 30 hours of free childcare from nine months old and free breakfast clubs rolled out across the country.
And on that point, can I just pay tribute to my predecessor, Bridget Phillipson, for the work she did to make that happen. Thank you, Bridget.
And as part of our plan to put care at the heart of everything we do, we’ll tackle profiteering in children’s care and ensure loving, enduring relationships.
Further Education was decimated by the Tories – we’ll reverse that decline. Because further education is the link between school and work.
We’ll make sure that young people today see the value in going to university. The future requires more not less highly qualified young people.
Conference, we will win that argument again, that education needs to confidently face the future.
We can only be the Department for Hope though, if we take everyone with us. We have amazing teachers, school leaders and support staff doing their best, every day, to help children thrive. It’s not a job it’s a calling.
I will always value school leaders and the school workforce. And their well-being. I understand the job you do, even in some of the most challenging contexts.
And I want a culture built on respect, collaboration, not competition. Self-improving and self-sustaining. Communities of schools working together for their community of children.
And conference I will establish our School Support Staff Negotiating Body to ensure all staff get the recognition and reward they deserve.
These are the arguments we need to win.
Conference, the world is changing fast, and childhood is changing with it. In this technological revolution, it’s the next generation that has to thrive in it – not the last one. It’s our job to help them navigate it – safely, with confidence and with relish.
The world has never been more connected, yet children have never felt more isolated. Childhood itself needs reimaging in this new era. Play, exploring, freedom, belonging and happiness.
So, my Department for Hope, this government of hope, will put the children’s hopes at the very heart of everything we do.
Because that’s what a Labour government does – it doesn’t just manage decline, it gives people something to believe in again.
The country’s crying out for it.
And together, conference, we will bring it back.
Thank you very much.
