Labour conference 2018: Key points from day two in Liverpool including Brexit and austerity

Labour hope to use the event to bring back support for the party.
Under fire plotter: Jeremy Corbyn
Getty Images
Tom Herbert24 September 2018
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The Labour Party's annual conference began this weekend in Liverpool, with key speeches being delivered on issues including Brexit and austerity.

MPs hoped to bring back support for the party as speculation mounts that Theresa May could face a snap election, following the EU's rejection of her Chequers proposals.

With events running until Wednesday, we take a look at the key points from the second day of the conference.

John McDonnell declares war on tax-dodging businesses

The shadow chancellor announced his intention to wage war on businesses that don't pay their tax, warning them the 'game is over'.

He urged churches, trade unions and pension funds with shares in large multinationals accused of fiddling the system to force them to pay their dues.

Nationalisation of the water industry

Jeremy Corbyn with John McDonnell at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool today
REUTERS

Mr McDonnell unveiled plans to renationalise water companies, with customers, workers and town halls taking control of them.

Under the plans Labour would cull water company bosses, with executive and director level jobs to be re-advertised on "dramatically reduced" salaries.

More power to workers with millions to be £500 a year better off

Mr McDonnell pledged to give workers more power, with a third of the seats on company boards allocated to them, and wages being determined by sectoral collective bargaining.

He also announced proposals for “inclusive ownership funds” into which large firms would have to put one per cent of their shares every year up to a maximum of 10 per cent.

Mr McDonnell said it could net almost 11 million workers up to £500 a year each.

New rules making it easier to deselect MPs

Mr McDonnell delivers his keynote speech
Reuters

The party voted through new rules making it easier to sack Members of Parliament deemed to be out of touch.

New rules, backed by 65.32 per cent to 34.68 per cent, stopped short of calls made by Momentum for automatic mandatory reselection for all MPs, but there are fears it could result in a purge of centrist MPs.

A general election instead of another Brexit referendum

During his speech Mr McDonnell stressed his preferred route was a general election.

He said: "I feel so strongly that these Tories should face the people."

Angela Rayner pledged to end the high pay of academy bosses 
PA

But he added that all the options for “democratic engagement” should be on the table, hinting at a public vote.

Amid reports that senior Conservatives are already talking about an autumn poll, Mr McDonnell put his party on an election war-footing.

“So the message from this conference is bring it on,” he said.

Cap 'fat cat' academy bosses' pay

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the party would target “fat cat” multi-academy trust executives — some of whom are paid up to £420,000.

She said the salaries were unacceptable in a climate where some schools were having to “beg” parents for financial support.

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