By Ian Dunt

Labour should pay less attention to the media if it wants to get back in power, Andy Burnham has argued.

The former labour leadership candidate, who came fourth in the poll, told conference he was happy a new generation had risen in the Labour party.

“Let’s worry a bit less about what the media says and a bit more about what we know is right,” he said.

He also attacked the Liberal Democrats for going into coalition with labour, mocking Nick Clegg’s preference for yellow ties.

“Your tie dost protest a bit too much,” he said, in a message to the deputy prime minister.

“The yellower it gets, the more you look and sound like a Tory. And that is today’s Liberal Democrats: Tories in yellow ties.”

The shadow health secretary reserved particular scorn for the government’s white paper, which some critics say threatens to privatise and carve up the NHS.

“Give the NHS the security it needs and if you don’t get ready for the fight of your life,” he said, in a message to David Cameron and health secretary Andrew Lansley.

“The public will be on our side, not yours. You made promises to NHS staff. We won’t let you betray them.

“Let’s show this arrogant government the might of this Labour movement when it fights as one.”