To make sure thatjustice could always be done in this country, Rishi Sunak called an election, putting interest of the party ahead of public safety, and there is a good reason i considered him and those him the guilty man. Considered him and those him the guilty man the guilty man. Applause fazed by the guilty man. Applause fazed by the the guilty man. Applause fazed by the imminent the guilty man. Applause fazed by the imminent collapse of our justice system, fazed by the imminent collapse of Ourjustice System, i had no choice and in the opening days of this government i was forced to take immediate action to address the crisis in our prisons. We were forced to release some offenders a few weeks or release some offenders a few wee. ,. , ,. , release some offenders a few wee. ,. ,. , weeks or months before, but this is no weeks or months before, but this is no get weeks or months before, but this is no get out weeks or months before, but this is no get out of weeks or months before, but this is no get out ofjail weeks or months before, but this is no get out ofjail free | this is no get out ofjail free card, and those released face strict conditions and if they do not meet them, they will feel the grip of a handle on their collar and they will be sent back to prison. Applause i did not want sent back to prison. Applause i did not want to sent back to prison. Applause i did not want to release i did not want to release anyone early but the last government left us with no choice. By the time this measure took effect, we were just one bad day from disaster. But i did not become Lord Chancellor because i thought that rescue alone is enough. I believe that our justice that rescue alone is enough. I believe that Ourjustice System needs reform. And i believe that reform is most urgently needed when we consider the plight of women. Conference, the law has taken too long to address the realities of women ares lives, and written mostly ijy ares lives, and written mostly by men, the male experience is its default setting. And today the law is still getting to grips with the reality of violence against women and girls. Consider, for instance, that 60 of victims dropped out of rape cases before they go to trial. And consider why. It is vital to the Pursuit Ofjustice that both sides, prosecution and defence, can build their case. And to do so requires collecting evidence. But the evidence demanded of victims too often goes too far. Full counselling records are still being asked for when they are not necessary. Lets go live to our political correspondent Alex Forsyth whos at the conference in liverpool for us. Give a sense of the reaction because some interesting passages on the practical choices that Keir Starmer says that ordinary people will have to make and also very interesting language on the summer of rioting and the question of immigration. Aha, summer of rioting and the question of immigration. A Busy Da At Question of immigration. A busy day at the question of immigration. A busy day at the Labour Question of immigration. A busy day at the Labour Party Day at the Labour Party Conference, the penultimate day when the big Ticket Item was the speech from Keir Starmer, the speech from Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and the biggest cheering came when he spoke about the rioting, using some pretty strong language, talking about thuggery, saying it is just racism, and the crowd were on their feet. We heard from Thejustice Secretary, and we had a flavour of her speech there, and she was addressing the fact they have released prisoners early and talking about reducing the number of women who go to prison. Imjoined by number of women who go to prison. Im joined by The General secretary of the prison officers association. What did you make of what you heard from the Justice Secretary . You make of what you heard from Thejustice Secretary . The present system is one area under real pressure on the government has had to let people out early. Government has had to let people out early. The Prison Service is people out early. The Prison Service is under people out early. The Prison Service is under real people out early. The prison. Service is under real Pressure And Service is under real pressure and Ii Service is under real pressure and it is service is under real pressure and it is at service is under real pressure and it is at crisis. I thought the and it is at crisis. I thought the lord and it is at crisis. I thought the lord Chancellors Speech was the lord Chancellors Speech was very the lord Chancellors Speech was very balanced and she talked was very balanced and she talked about victims of crime and also talked about victims of crime and also about the reform in Ourjustice System which we do badiy Ourjustice System which we do badly need. It needs a total revamp badly need. It needs a total revamp of Sentencing Policy and she specified and focused on women she specified and focused on women in prisons. I have got to say, women in prisons. I have got to say, i women in prisons. I have got to say, i do women in prisons. I have got to say, i do agree with her, as someone say, i do agree with her, as someone who worked in the female someone who worked in the female Prison Estate, some very damaged female Prison Estate, some very damaged people in there that probably should be diverted away probably should be diverted away from prison in the first place away from prison in the first place to away from prison in the first place to get the treatment they deserve place to get the treatment they deserve. Mentally ill women are coming deserve. Mentally ill women are coming out worse than they were going coming out worse than they were going in. Coming out worse than they were going in, short term sentences, the families suffer, babies suffer, the families suffer, babies suffer, the Lord Chancellor talked suffer, the Lord Chancellor talked about the children, bahies talked about the children, babies in prison, as well, and that babies in prison, as well, and that is babies in prison, as well, and that is no babies in prison, as well, and that is no place for a baby. The that is no place for a baby. The reality is, this has not come the reality is, this has not come about as a result of the last couple of weeks, this is something that has been building up over decades, actually, under successive governments, and during the Strangeways Riot in the 90s, they Strangeways Riot in the 90s, they were talking about overcrowding then, and we had 43. 000 overcrowding then, and we had 43,000 prisoners but now we have 43,000 prisoners but now we have 87,000. We have got to have have 87,000. We have got to have the have 87,000. We have got to have the Adult Conversation in this country about what we want from this country about what we want from prisons, about punishment and rehabilitation, because it is an and rehabilitation, because it is an important Public Service that is an important Public Service that is is an important Public Service that is costing the taxpayer a lot of that is costing the taxpayer a lot of money. I actually agree with lot of money. I actually agree with the lot of money. I actually agree with the Lord Chancellor in trying with the Lord Chancellor in trying to with the Lord Chancellor in trying to address that situation. Trying to address that situation. ~. ,. ,. , situation. We have heard a lot from peeple situation. We have heard a lot from people who situation. We have heard a lot from people who have situation. We have heard a lot from people who have taken l situation. We have heard a lot| from people who have taken to the platform and given their speeches about some of the challenges the country faces, so are you convinced we are hearing enough about the solutions . Hearing enough about the solutions . ,. , solutions . There are solutions and we always solutions . There are solutions and we always Highlight Solutions . There are solutions and we always highlight the i and we always highlight the problems sometimes to government but in our dealings with the government but in our dealings with the prisons minister, james with the prisons minister, james timson, andy Lord Chancellor, we are giving solutions, there needs to be a royal solutions, there needs to be a Royal Commission Into Prisons but also Royal Commission Into Prisons but also into the whole criminaljustice system, we Criminal Justice system, we have criminaljustice system, we have seen of the last 14 years a complete decimation of not Ust A Complete Decimation of not just prisons but the whole criminal just prisons but the whole criminaljustice system, and Criminal Justice system, and for example, criminaljustice system, and for example, the the last government, shut down 50 of Magistrates Courts which is why we have Magistrates Courts which is why we have the backlog in our courts we have the backlog in our courts and justice system. The Prisons Courts and justice system. The prisons are courts and justice system. The prisons are drinking at the seams prisons are drinking at the seams. What we have also said to the seams. What we have also said to the lord seams. What we have also said to the Lord Chancellor creaking to the Lord Chancellor creaking at the seams. You cannot creaking at the seams. You cannot build your way out of a crisis cannot build your way out of a crisis so cannot build your way out of a crisis so invest into your existing crisis so invest into your existing Prison Estate because there existing Prison Estate because there was not much detail in relation there was not much detail in relation to where they are going relation to where they are going to relation to where they are going to put the Women Prisoners upon their release, and prisoners upon their release, and that prisoners upon their release, and that is a crucial issue. They and that is a crucial issue. They have and that is a crucial issue. They have got to have the backbone and the foundation to make backbone and the foundation to make that work. Backbone and the foundation to make that work. Thank you very much indeed. Make that work. Thank you very much indeed. The make that work. Thank you very much indeed. The general much indeed. The general secretary much indeed. The general secretary of much indeed. The general secretary of the much indeed. The general secretary of the Prison Secretary of the prison officers association. Keir starmer was talking about trade offs and he said if you want new prisons, you might have to have them your homes. And he said if you want renewable energy, you might have to have pylons built above ground, and in terms of housing, every community has got to take their fair share. I spoke to Wes Streeting to get his reaction, the Health Secretary. His reaction, the Health Secretary his reaction, the health secreta. ~. Secretary. What the Prime Minister did secretary. What the Prime Minister did it secretary. What the Prime Minister did it set secretary. What the Prime Minister did it set out secretary. What the Prime Minister did it set out the | minister did it set out the Vision Minister did it set out the vision for our country and the Plan Vision for our country and the plan to vision for our country and the plan to get us there, reassuring people that the hard choices reassuring people that the hard choices are part of a brighter Future Choices are part of a brighter future and levelling with people about the choices and trade offs on the things that will make a difference, the practical will make a difference, the practical policies, taking action practical policies, taking action on veteran homelessness, making action on veteran homelessness, making sure young people get access making sure young people get access to making sure young people get access to new apprenticeships so they access to new apprenticeships so they can access well paid jobs so they can access well paid jobs and so they can access well paid jobs and skills. But it was the argument as much as Anything Else argument as much as Anything Else that argument as much as Anything Else that was really interesting, the argument about taking interesting, the argument about taking on interesting, the argument about taking on vested interests and giving taking on vested interests and giving the country its sense of service giving the country its sense of service back from its government and giving People Security Government and giving People Security and opportunity in their Security And Opportunity in their lives whatever their backgrounds. I thought it was visionary backgrounds. I thought it was visionary and a vision that will visionary and a vision that will not visionary and a vision that Will Notjust mobilise the labour Will Notjust mobilise the Labour Party but the country because Labour Party but the country because we cannot do these things because we cannot do these things without working in partnership with business and civil Society And Everyone making civil Society And Everyone making a contribution. We were told what to making a contribution. We were told what to expect making a contribution. We were told what to expect from making a contribution. We were told what to expect from the i told what to expect from the speech but the message we were getting today was that this was going to be a bit more optimistic than some of the soundings we had heard before but there was a lot in there about unpopular choices and the trade offs. If you want new homes, you have got to have them in your communities, for example. It is going to be hopeful enough . It example. It is going to be hopeful enough . Example. It is going to be hopeful enough . It is about treatinu hopeful enough . It is about treating people hopeful enough . It is about treating people with hopeful enough . It is about. Treating people with respect. People treating people with respect. People are not daft, the public are not people are not daft, the public are not stupid and they can see the state are not stupid and they can see the state of the country and what the state of the country and what they want is a leader who will level what they want is a leader who will level with them, and be honest will level with them, and be honest with them about what is required honest with them about what is required to get the country back required to get the country back on required to get the country back on its feet but also thriving back on its feet but also thriving. The Prime Minister set out thriving. The Prime Minister set out clearly the choices and trade offs and explained exactly where he is and whether government is and i think People Government is and i think people will take heart from that people will take heart from that. The other thing the Prime Minister that. The other thing the Prime Minister knew is that he has been minister knew is that he has been honest with people as has the chancellor, about the state of the the chancellor, about the state of the public finances and the choices of the public finances and the choices that it is inflicting on us choices that it is inflicting on us as choices that it is inflicting on us as we try to balance the books, on us as we try to balance the books, but on us as we try to balance the books, but he also knew that as we made books, but he also knew that as we made the arguments about fixing we made the arguments about fixing the foundations over the summer. Fixing the foundations over the summer, you wanted to come here to describe summer, you wanted to come here to describe the home he will build to describe the home he will build upon the stronger foundations and i think it was a Reat Foundations and i think it was a real vision with plan and treating people with the respect they deserve by setting up respect they deserve by setting up the respect they deserve by setting up the choices and why we are making up the choices and why we are making those choices in how we are going making those choices in how we are going to deliver and people will take are going to deliver and people will take Heart And Reassurance from will take Heart And Reassurance from that will take Heart And Reassurance from that from that. There was a policy in there from that. There was a policy in there. Housing from that. There was a policy in there. Housing for from that. There was a policy| in there. Housing for veterans and Hillsborough Law but it was not packed with policy details. He was on his feet for about an hour but we did not get a grand plan for how he would put into action what he hopes to achieve in government. Action what he hopes to achieve in government. People elected a Labour Government in government. People elected a Labour Government on in government. People elected a Labour Government on the in government. People elected a Labour Government on the 4th. In government. People elected a | Labour Government on the 4th Of July on Labour Government on the 4th Of July on a Labour Government on the 4th Of July on a manifesto for change and we july on a manifesto for change and we will deliver that, the promises and we will deliver that, the promises we made we will keep, which promises we made we will keep, which the promises we made we will keep, which the country can afford, and which the country can afford, and that which the country can afford, and that is really important. It and that is really important. It was and that is really important. It was also important that he set out it was also important that he set out some arguments about the choices facing the country. Being the choices facing the country. Being clear with people about where being clear with people about where he coming from. On immigration, the tories lost control, immigration, the tories lost control, but he was clear, people control, but he was clear, people with concerns about immigration are not racist but they immigration are not racist but they have immigration are not racist but they have reasonable concerns, but people who are Setting Fire on hotels containing migrants, who are on hotels containing migrants, who are marching through the streets who are marching through the streets doing nazi salutes at the cenotaph, most people are racist the cenotaph, most people are racist and the cenotaph, most people are racist and we will call them out and racist and we will call them out and we will not allow racism out and we will not allow Racism And Prejudice to thrive on our Racism And Prejudice to thrive on our streets and that is real leadership. On our streets and that is real leadership leadership. The Health Secretary leadership. The Health Secretary wes leadership. The health | secretary Wes Streeting reacting to the speech from the Prime Minister which was the big Ticket Item on the penultimate day of the Labour Party Conference. He said he would look at practical solutions that work and not easy ones and it seems to have gone down pretty well at the Labour Party Conference. But there are some people who want to see a bit more detail and we will maybe get more detail about Tax And Spending plans on october 30. About Tax And Spending plans on october30. But about Tax And Spending plans on october 30. But a big moment nevertheless, the first labour Prime Minister making a speech to the Labour Party Conference in 15 years. To the Labour Party Conference in 15 years in 15 years. Thanks for oining us. In 15 years. Thanks for oining much in 15 years. Thanks for oining us. Much more in 15 years. Thanks for oining us. Much more on in 15 years. Thanks forjoining us. Much more on that in 15 years. Thanks forjoining us. Much more on that on in 15 years. Thanks forjoining| us. Much more on that on the website which is being updated all the time. We are back in a few moments with the sport and then matthew will pick up with a Round Up of the uk and global news in about 15 minutes. Dozens of women have come forward accusing Mohamed Al fayed of Sexual Assault or rape. The company is investigating whether any current staff were involved. Last week we broadcast a documentary telling the story more than 20 women who said he had assaulted or raped them. We heard more about the reaction they had been since the documentary was aired. The reaction has been incredible, and a lot more people have come forward to both the Production Team and the bbc and the lawyers who are bringing claims against harrods, and while that is shocking, it is still a demonstration of the fact that people feel freer to speak about what happened. In terms of the reaction, it has been extraordinary, partly because it is an underdog story, people