Harman tells delegates Labour can win a fourth term
Thursday, 27 September 2007 12:00 AM
She may have stopped short of telling Labour delegates to go back to the constituency and prepare for government, but Harriet Harman today did little to dampen election fever.
Rumours of an autumn poll have dominated this week's Labour party conference in Bournemouth, with only Gordon Brown remaining tight lipped on the subject.
In her closing speech to the conference, Ms Harman soon turned to the next election, telling delegates "the British people will have a clear choice about who will lead our country."
Praising the government's past achievements and the challenges facing Mr Brown, the deputy leader concluded: "If we do what is right, when the time comes and we ask people for their vote, people will say - 'yes, we want our government to be Labour'."
Ms Harman said Labour were more confident, determined and united than ever before.
The British people now had a prime minister who "listens and gets on with the job" and a Cabinet who could be trusted to deal with flooding, foot and mouth or banking unease.
Rallying delegates as they prepared to return to their constituencies, Ms Harman hit out at the "weak" David Cameron and "nasty" Tory party.
She told the Tory leader: "Just getting your photo in the papers is not a qualification to run the country."
Ms Harman, who is also the minister for women, said Labour was the party of the family and would show this by supporting them.
She said the country did not need the Tories to "send out a message about marriage"; as this meant telling children without two parents there is something wrong with their family or gay and lesbian couples there is something wrong with their family.
Ms Harman said: "That Tory message about marriage is just the same old back to basics.
"And the truth is that until they drop it, the Tory party is still the nasty party.
"And I think David Cameron is too weak to change it."
She said the prime minister was prepared to change the way we do politics and the way we govern.
The Labour deputy leader admitted the party had more to do; including childcare, equal pay, human trafficking, affordable housing and climate change.
Because of this, she said she was determined "never again" to let the Conservatives into government and leave Labour powerless against low pay, long NHS waiting lists and failing schools.
Praising the entire Labour team, Ms Harman said she wanted to see Ken Livingstone and every councillor and MP returned to office after their next elections.
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