CONFERENCE DAY 4

So we don't need a congestion charge. Try getting down Bury New Road into Manchester during rush hour, a nightmare. A trip that usually takes 10-15 minutes took me nearly an hour this morning, crazy!!

Managed to catch Andy Burnham MP(who is a rising star and seems to get better each time I see him) and his announcement for free theatre tickets for young people. It may seem a gimick but I see in Salford how young people react and participate in drama, it is very positive. So if this scheme works and sparks something within a young person to get involved, it's got to be a good idea. It will also be a cultural experience for many young people.

Hazel Blears MP closed the debate with the usual passion and payed tribute to her dad, which was a nice moment.

I had to miss the Prime Ministers speech as I had the great pleasure of attending the official opening of Oasis academy media city. Dave Terry, the principal has done a fantastic job of turning the school round and it can only go from strength to strength. Steve Chalke the head of Oasis is very passionate and has a real ethos of every person matters.

I watched Gordon Brown's speech when I got in and was impressed at a speech that was aimed at the party. Below are headlines of the speech from the Labour party website:
In his speech, he gave the British people an unconditional assurance of his commitment to dealing with challenging economic circumstances, and investing in the future to build Labour's enduring aim: the fair society, defined by social mobility, where everyone has a fair chance to succeed.
Of David Cameron's Conservatives he said
"Just think where our country would be if we'd listened to them. No paternity leave, no New Deal, no Bank of England independence, no Sure Start, no devolution, no civil partnerships, no minimum wage, no new investment in the NHS, no new nurses, no new police, no new schools.
"So let's hear no more from the Conservatives - we did fix the roof while the sun was shining."
Measures announced in his speech included a new commitment to put in legislation our commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020; a new goal of free nursery places for 2 year olds; a new entitlement for primary school pupils to one-to-one tuition if they are behind expectations and are making slow progress in English and/or maths in Key Stage 2; a commitment to get 1 million more families on broadband by 2012 and a commitment to end prescription charges for cancer patients.
I very much liked his "this is no time for a novice" quip which could be aimed at Cameron or young pretenders in the party!!

I then took the evening off to go and see my beloved United beat Middlesborough 3-1 in the Carling Cup.