good afternoon, welcome to bbc news. sir keir starmer is heading for a conference showdown with labour's left over changes he wants to make to the way the party chooses mps and leaders. earlier, he was forced to drop plans to scrap one member—one vote for leadership elections. but other measures will go to a conference vote on sunday after they were backed by labour's ruling body. we will be hearing labour deputy leader, angela rayner, speaking at the labour conference in brighton very shortly, but first let's listen intimate dame margaret beckett, former secretary and mp for derby south. —— listen in to dame margaret beckett. south. -- listen in to dame margaret beckett. �* ., ., ., ., beckett. brighton pavilion, we have come to conference _ beckett. brighton pavilion, we have come to conference knowing - beckett. brighton pavilion, we have come to conference knowing that i beckett. brighton pavilion, we havel come to conference knowing that the first of the black doctors that died from covid were black, that there is an increase in domestic violence and mental health issues in lockdown, debbie abrams mp has said six out of ten people who have died from covid are disabled. we are looking at this conference timetable and we cannot see where we are able to debate anything about policies, let alone covid and equalities. 0ur testing is... covid and equalities. our testing is... ., ., ., ., covid and equalities. our testing is... you have ma'or point. thank ou. is... you have ma'or point. thank you. harry _ is... you have ma'or point. thank you. harry wiu_ is... you have major point. thank you. harry will reply _ is... you have major point. thank you. harry will reply to _ is... you have major point. thank you. harry will reply to any - is... you have major point. thanki you. harry will reply to any points anybody _ you. harry will reply to any points anybody makes. now there was somebody else... back there, your hand _ somebody else... back there, your hand seems— somebody else... back there, your hand seems to have gone down again. a woman _ hand seems to have gone down again. a woman there. there is somebody. 0k. a woman there. there is somebody. 0k~ i _ a woman there. there is somebody. 0k. ., �* 4' a woman there. there is somebody. 0k. ., �* ~ ., , ., ok. i don't think we need to sit on that for much _ ok. i don't think we need to sit on that for much longer, _ ok. i don't think we need to sit on that for much longer, do - ok. i don't think we need to sit on that for much longer, do we? - ok. i don't think we need to sit on that for much longer, do we? are | that for much longer, do we? are trying to get themselves organised over some debates to do with covid and health system staff. our critical correspondence is at the conference in brighton this weekend. we are waiting to hear from angela rayner, the deputy leader, to kick off the leader formally and helen, and she has already been talking in advance today about the idea of introducing fair pay contracts. tell us more. , , ., , introducing fair pay contracts. tell us more. , , .,, ., introducing fair pay contracts. tell usmore. , , us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly _ us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly that _ us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly that it _ us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly that it wants - us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly that it wants to - us more. yes, she has, labour has said repeatedly that it wants to do | said repeatedly that it wants to do better deals for working people, so what we will hear from in the first conference speech this afternoon is angela rayner setting out what they have described as a new deal for working people. and that would be enacted within 100 days of working people. and that would be enacted within100 days of taking office. a centrepiece of this is a fair pay agreement modelled on something that already happens in new zealand. the idea is that you bring together employers with employees and they would be great binding wage agreement applying cross a particular sector, and they have one sector in mind to start it off, social care. we expect to hear more on that from angela rayner and she will talk about some of the other key policy issues labour would want to introduce the workers, for example, banning zero—hour contracts, banning the practice known as fire and rehire. they want to introduce sick pay to the minimum wage up to £10 per hour and a whole raft of reforms they want to bring in for working people. it is quite significant that is a first speech of the conference, coming from the deputy leader angela rayner. there is also in advance _ deputy leader angela rayner. there is also in advance of _ deputy leader angela rayner. there is also in advance of this _ is also in advance of this conference, there has been a lot of discussion about the mechanism by which a future labour party leaders are chosen. a great deal of this agreement pending on who you listen to in the party. == agreement pending on who you listen to in the party-— to in the party. -- of disagreement. over the to in the party. -- of disagreement. overthe last _ to in the party. -- of disagreement. over the last few _ to in the party. -- of disagreement. over the last few days, _ to in the party. -- of disagreement. over the last few days, this - to in the party. -- of disagreement. over the last few days, this has - over the last few days, this has dominated the run—up to the labour conference, the process by which you elect a labour leader. that is because sir keir starmer wanted to make some big changes to that process, and that has got through originally and he originally suggested what is known as returning to electoral college system. so instead of each member having a vote counted equally, there would be an electoral college where each vote would be worth a third. there was a lot of backlash to that, particularly from the left of the party, with four leaderjeremy corbyn accusing the leader of trying to shut down debate. there have been a number of discussions this week and where they have ultimately got to is not that. instead, keir starmer has spoken to the national executive committee, and what has been agreed this morning at that level is that instead they will raise the bar for the level is that instead they will raise the barfor the number of nominations that a labour mp would need to get to be able to become candidates for the leadership. at the moment, it is 10%, 10% of your parliamentary colleagues to get yourself on the ballot paper, that is now going to be raised to 20% if it passes a vote of blame it on the conference floor tomorrow. the national campaigns coordinator for labour said earlier they are confident they will get that change through. there are other changes being made, we understand you will being made, we understand you will be able to pay £3 and become a registered supporter to vote in leadership campaigns and i will be abolished. it will also be harder for liberal parties to deselect an mp. there were lots of rows over the last few years about local parties or local bodies trying to deselect their sitting mp. that will become harder under these reforms. it is still likely to be controversial, as i said, but the leadership are confident they will get this through, but it is never a given, is it? ., ., , it? now, and neither is the timing of a conference. _ it? now, and neither is the timing of a conference. we _ it? now, and neither is the timing of a conference. we were - it? now, and neither is the timing i of a conference. we were expecting to hear angela rayner at 2:55pm but they are overrunning a little bit. helen, thank you very much. we will go back to brighton soon as we see angela rayner arrive. the government is due to formally announce a visa scheme that will make it easier for foreign drivers to work in the uk. details of the plan will be set out tomorrow. it's expected the temporary plan will allow visas for about 5,000 drivers to tackle the hgv driver shortage, which has led to supply problems at some petrol stations and other businesses. the road haulage association estimates that the uk is short of about 100,000 hgv drivers in total — with existing shortages made worse by a number of factors, including the pandemic and brexit. here's our business correspondent, katy austin. people have been told not to panic buy, there is no shortage of fuel itself. but again this morning, there were queues at petrol stations. absolute mayhem, nobody can get past, nobody can get in. eg group, which operates 400 sites, has set a £30 per customer limit. the initial problems experienced by bp were due to a shortage of lorry drivers. it is thought the uk has a shortfall of tens of thousands. brexit is definitely one of them. the pandemic, as you mentioned, played its part. the change to the payroll, of payroll working regulations, ir35, that played a significant part. but the general problem has been around and known about for ten to 15 years or more, and the ageing driver workforce retiring, we are not replacing them with the younger workers. wages are rising as firms try to attract staff, but freight and retail groups say more action is needed to plug the gap while a bigger uk workforce is grown. for months, the government has resisted calls to introduce a temporary visa scheme for foreign drivers, but it is now expected to announce one tomorrow, with 5000 visas available. there will also be a raft of longer—term measures. while it is really good news from the government, we do have to realise as an industry that that is a very short—term fix, and with the view of getting eu drivers back into the uk to help the christmas retail season. beyond that, what are the government going to do? what are the industry also going to do to prevent this happening again? the business group — the cbi — says it was welcome but late. it is a big relief. hopefully it is going to happen, and it is a huge relief. we have been calling for it for three months. we could see this problem coming and more problems coming, and so it is a shame the government needed queues at the pumps to move, but move i hope they have, and it will help. the uk isn't the only country experiencing shortages. it is unclear how many overseas drivers will apply for a visa and how soon. businesses just want things to improve before the crucial christmas period. katy austin, bbc news. madeleine sumption is the director of the migration 0bservatory at oxford university. she says a temporary visa regime would represent a reversal of the government to's migration policy. last year, as the government was preparing to end free movement with the eu, they took a hard line on adoration into low—wage jobs and effectively said, you are not in a highly skilled and highly paid position, so people have to adapt and there will be no cards for industries like social care and hospitality and construction, —— pop outs industries like... what is interesting about this is this is perhaps the first and may be the only case where we will see that this is obviously a reversal of the position where the government is saying, well, maybe we need a special programme to bring people in in this case. i think we might be able to return to the labour party conference. let me wait... yes, we can. angela rayner is making her way to the stage where a bit of a musical fanfare. she is the deputy leader of the late party. let's listen. conference, angela rayner, first time, deputy leader.— conference, angela rayner, first. time, deputy leader._ i time, deputy leader. applause. i think i can — time, deputy leader. applause. i think i can still _ time, deputy leader. applause. i think i can still say _ time, deputy leader. applause. i think i can still say that, - time, deputy leader. applause. i think i can still say that, chair, - think i can still say that, chair, because i know it is 18 months since you, our members, affiliated unions and supporters, gave me the honour of serving as a deputy leader, but this is the first time i have had privilege and pleasure of speaking to you in person. at conference, there is nothing... there are some things we did not miss. the warm wine, the beige above as, eight hours of a meeting if you are lucky, the struggle takes many forms. but our movement has been a family to me throughout my life, and like so many families, we have waited patiently together in person. so here we are, and it is great to see so many in the hall and even better now we are off zoom, because you can't even mute me. off zoom, because you can't even mute me— off zoom, because you can't even l mute me._ conference, off zoom, because you can't even - mute me._ conference, on mute me. applause. conference, on the da i mute me. applause. conference, on the day i was _ mute me. applause. conference, on the day i was declared _ mute me. applause. conference, on the day i was declared your— mute me. applause. conference, on the day i was declared your deputy i the day i was declared your deputy leader, ijust wanted to get on with working for the party. i wanted to stand up, speak out, but i could barely stand and i could barely speak. because, like so many, i had caught coronavirus. and i know too well that i am lucky to have lived through it. when others, including members of my own family, did not. and i'm grateful that i am here today and i'm grateful to all those who helped our country survive its too. we saw... who helped our country survive its too. we saw. . ._ we - who helped our country survive its | too. we saw. . ._ we saw who helped our country survive its - too. we saw. . ._ we saw the too. we saw... applause. we saw the ve best too. we saw... applause. we saw the very best of — too. we saw... applause. we saw the very best of our — too. we saw... applause. we saw the very best of our movement _ too. we saw... applause. we saw the very best of our movement through - very best of our movement through this crisis. 0ur labour councillors and mayors fought for their communities alongside manchester's finest, marcus rashford. they fed hungry kids when ministers wouldn't. applause. the hungry kids when ministers wouldn't. applause. . , hungry kids when ministers wouldn't. applause. ~ , ., ,., applause. the welsh labour government _ applause. the welsh labour government led _ applause. the welsh labour government led the _ applause. the welsh labour government led the uk's - applause. the welsh labour| government led the uk's most successful vaccination programme. applause. fill" successful vaccination programme. applause. ., ., , ., applause. our trade unions fought forfurlough. _ applause. our trade unions fought for furlough, ppe, _ applause. our trade unions fought for furlough, ppe, and _ applause. our trade unions fought for furlough, ppe, and for- applause. our trade unions fought for furlough, ppe, and for their - forfurlough, ppe, and fortheir members to stay safe. for furlough, ppe, and for their members to stay safe. and members to stay safe. applause. and our key workers. _ members to stay safe. applause. and our key workers, you _ members to stay safe. applause. and our key workers, you served _ members to stay safe. applause. and our key workers, you served our - our key workers, you served our country, you saved our country, you deserve better and britain deserves better, and labour will be better. applause. better, and labour will be better. applause— better, and labour will be better. applause. ., . , , . ., applause. conference, we must become the government — applause. conference, we must become the government our— applause. conference, we must become the government our nation _ applause. conference, we must become the government our nation deserves, - the government our nation deserves, not the one it has. when i think about the sacrifices working people have made, i think of unison representatives who live in my constituency and do the same job i used to do. they visit elderly and vulnerable people who cannot manage on their own. they are paid less than the minimum wage, which is already too low to live on, because they are not paid between visits. with every trip, for every person they care for, they face the choice. do i cut down on my time caring or do i work longer without pay? and it is not a choice forjill and leslie, they are carers in every sense, because they care deeply for the people they look after. they value their work and they take great pride in it. they deserve notjust fair pay and decent conditions, but dignity and respect. basic values of our party and of our country too. applause. our party and of our country too. applause— applause. that is why today, conference. — applause. that is why today, conference, i _ applause. that is why today, conference, i am _ applause. that is why today, conference, i am publishing . applause. that is why today, | conference, i am publishing our green paper on employment rights, and, conference, ijust want to thank andy mcdonald, who is over there. andy, stand up for me. our shadow secretary of state for employment rights! and i employment rights! applause. and i want to thank — employment rights! applause. and i want to thank our _ employment rights! applause. and i want to thank our shadow _ employment rights! applause. and i want to thank our shadow minister, l want to thank our shadow minister, imran hussain, and andy's old team, who have gone into tremendous work producing our most detailed set of policies to date. and, andy, we couldn't ask for a better person to be our future secretary of state. applause. be our future secretary of state. applause— be our future secretary of state. applause. �* ., ., ., ~ ., applause. and i want to thank our affiliated trade _ applause. and i want to thank our affiliated trade unions _ applause. and i want to thank our affiliated trade unions all _ applause. and i want to thank our affiliated trade unions all the - affiliated trade unions all the meetings, discussion and research that went into this, and we didn't even provide you with sandwiches. conference, i am even provide you with sandwiches. conference, iam not even provide you with sandwiches. conference, i am not presenting you with a policy document that will sit on a shelf collecting dust. let's make this real and show every worker in every workplace in every corner of our country that with their support, their lives, theirjobs, support, their lives, their jobs, their communities support, their lives, theirjobs, their communities can and will be better. �* ~ ,, their communities can and will be better._ conference, l their communities can and will be i better._ conference, this better. applause. conference, this . reen better. applause. conference, this green paper— better. applause. conference, this green paper is _ better. applause. conference, this green paper is for— better. applause. conference, this green paper is for every _ better. applause. conference, this green paper is for every parent - green paper is for every parent tearing your hair out, trying to get childcare, who has missed the sports day or parents evening because he couldn't come in early or leave early. it is for every young person who dared not turn down a shift on zero—hours contracts as you might not get ours next week and you can't take a break and cannot get sick. and it is for every worker who went to work and never made it home, and for theirfamilies who to work and never made it home, and for their families who will never see them again. conference, this is the reality for millions of people all around our country. but it doesn't have to be this way. the tories�* political choices made it this way. labour will make different choices. not by turning back the clock to a bygone era, but by facing the future with workers' rights fit for a modern world. we will empower people to have a real say over their own working lives, and in this hall, we know, conference, that our greatest power comes from not when we stand alone, but when we stand and work together. throughout our history, that is how victories and progress working people has been achieved. and, conference, no one knows that better than the shrewsbury 24. after 47 years, they got their day in court, and finally, they got that miscarriage ofjustice overturned. they got that miscarriage of 'ustice overturned. �* �* ,, and it is that same spirit and tradition that i and announcing today, our plan fair pay agreements, and labour government will bring together representatives of workers and employers to negotiate pay and conditions in every sector. collective bargaining in every sector will end the free market free throw that encourages undercutting exploitation and a race to the bottom. �* ~ ,, exploitation and a race to the . bottom._ conference, exploitation and a race to the - bottom._ conference, it bottom. applause. conference, it will rive bottom. applause. conference, it will give workers _ bottom. applause. conference, it will give workers and _ bottom. applause. conference, it will give workers and their- will give workers and their representatives are legally enforceable seat at the table to set a fair rate for the job, agreed basic standards and tackle gender and ethnicity pay gaps, end discrimination, promote equality and make work accessible for disabled workers. and, conference... applause. $5 workers. and, conference... applause— workers. and, conference... applause. �* , ., ., ., ~ applause. as a former care worker, we will start — applause. as a former care worker, we will start a _ applause. as a former care worker, we will start a social _ applause. as a former care worker, we will start a social care, _ applause. as a former care worker, we will start a social care, so - we will start a social care, so people like jill we will start a social care, so people likejill and lesley... people like jill and lesley... applause. people likejill and lesley... applause. jill people like jill and lesley... applause— people like jill and lesley... applause. ., , , ., applause. jill and lesley and the 600,000 carers _ applause. jill and lesley and the 600,000 carers who _ applause. jill and lesley and the 600,000 carers who are - applause. jill and lesley and the 600,000 carers who are paid - applause. jill and lesley and the | 600,000 carers who are paid less than the living wage, in new zealand, oursister than the living wage, in new zealand, our sister party is establishing agreements just like these. in wales, our own labour government's social partnership means workers have a real say on issues that impact on their lives, and as trade unionists, you and i note there is no better way to deliver a better dealfor note there is no better way to deliver a better deal for working people and empowering trade unions to negotiate on our behalf. applause. but you know, conference, son things are not negotiable. —— some things are not negotiable. —— some things are not negotiable. so labour will give all workers' rights from day one in theirjobs,... will create one in theirjobs,... will create one single worker banning bogus self—employment and ending the absurd situation in which you can wear a uniform cannot work regular hours for one sole business and yet be considered by the law to be self—employed. you either a worker or you genuinely self—employed, and either way, we will change your working life for the better. applause. working life for the better. applause— working life for the better. applause. ~ ., ., , working life for the better. applause. �* ., ., , applause. and we will not only ban zero-hour contracts, _ applause. and we will not only ban zero-hour contracts, but _ applause. and we will not only ban zero-hour contracts, but ensure - applause. and we will not only ban zero-hour contracts, but ensure alll zero—hour contracts, but ensure all contracts come with minimum hours and reflect normal working life, requiring notice of shift changes and pay when they are cancelled at the last minute. and, conference, i think of the young parent in my own constituency trying to bring up a child while working, each week hoping that their shift can work around the childcare, because they can't leave little one waiting at the school gates, but they have to put food on the table too. a labour government will change their life by writing common decency and fairness into the rules of our economy, and, conference, that is why labour will end the scandalous practice of fire and rehire at once and for all. applause. it is why i stood with members of unite and gmb as they took action on companies like british airways and british gas and i said to those companies, if you use the country's name, you better respect the country's values.— name, you better respect the - country's values._ and when country's values. applause. and when i am deu country's values. applause. and when i am deputy prime _ country's values. applause. and when i am deputy prime minister, _ country's values. applause. and when i am deputy prime minister, it - country's values. applause. and when i am deputy prime minister, it won't i i am deputy prime minister, it won't just be words, but the full force of the law. �* ~ ,, just be words, but the full force of the law._ conference, | just be words, but the full force of i the law._ conference, never the law. applause. conference, never under a labour — the law. applause. conference, never under a labour government _ the law. applause. conference, never under a labour government will - the law. applause. conference, never under a labour government will bad i under a labour government will bad employers hold all the cards in a stacked deck. that applies to work — life balance too. global pandemic has reinforced, for a lot of us, how precious time off is and how utterly exhausting the daily grind can be. so labour will introduce a new rights to flexible work as a default, protections for those with caring responsibilities and a right to switch off too. now, working from home has given some of us a new freedom and flexibility, but it has also blurred the lines between what is home and what is work. a new economy needs workers' rights that reflect the way we work now. we will learn the lessons of this pandemic, increasing statutory sick pay and making it universal so that everyone can afford to live while they are off sick or self isolating. that is not only fair for working people, but it is vital for all our health as well. and, conference, we will put mental health and safety on a legal part with physical health and safety. legal part with physical health and safe . �* ~ ,, legal part with physical health and safety-_ and _ legal part with physical health and safety-_ and we - legal part with physical health and safety._ and we will i legal part with physical health and i safety._ and we will make safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws — safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws are _ safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws are enforced _ safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws are enforced by - safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws are enforced by a i safety. applause. and we will make sure the laws are enforced by a newl sure the laws are enforced by a new empowered watchdog, unlike this government, which has not prosecuted one single case over unsafe work in the pandemic. the tories will say, to be pro—worker is to be anti—business. conference, we have to nail that lie. so many businesses play by the rules. they do the right thing, but are undercut by the offshore and the unscrupulous. many offshore and the unscrupulous. many of them small and medium—sized businesses, who are the backbone of local and regional economies, they deserve better too. the country has already waited too long, already shouldered to heavy a burden, and as your deputy prime minister, i will go into government with our first green paper already prepared and within the first 100 days of coming into office, we will sign into law the new dealfor working people. applause. and, conference, iabsolutely believe that these policies will transform our country and the lives of its people. and what contrast to the government that is taking £1400 out of the pockets of a nurse over £2 billion that they are giving to taxpayers —— taxpayers' money they are giving out to mates and donors of ministers. there is only one rule of ministers. there is only one rule of this cabinet, and it is that it is one rule for them and one rule for all of us. like the foreign secretary, cancelling leave our troops and then trooping off to the beach. 0ne rule for them and another rule for us. the prime minister, who got pinged and tried to go to work anyway. 0ne rule for them, another rule for us. and who can forget the barnyard castle i test? 0ne rule for them, another rule for us. and you know what? it matters because when they use the public purse as a personal cashpoint, we literally all pay the bill. billions were wasted on useless equipment. we now spend nearly £1 million a day simply storing it. our money lining the pockets of their mates. 0r storing it. our money lining the pockets of their mates. or in the case of the health secretary, £30 million going to his pub landlord. it has now been ordered by the court, apparently, to hand over his whatsapp messages, but quite frankly, i don't think i want to know what is on matt hancock's whatsapp. know what is on matt hancock's whatsapp-— know what is on matt hancock's whatsapp-_ but. - know what is on matt hancock's - whatsapp._ but, conference, whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do whatsapp. applause. but, conference, ido romise whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do promise you — whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do promise you this. _ whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do promise you this. we _ whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do promise you this. we will. - whatsapp. applause. but, conference, i do promise you this. we will. the i i do promise you this. we will. the dodgy deals handing public money to ministers�* mates. it is bad news for my pub landlord but it is good news for the public. my pub landlord but it is good news for the public— my pub landlord but it is good news for the public._ and i my pub landlord but it is good news for the public._ and let l my pub landlord but it is good news l for the public._ and let me for the public. applause. and let me tell ou for the public. applause. and let me tell you this- — for the public. applause. and let me tell you this. as _ for the public. applause. and let me tell you this. as the _ for the public. applause. and let me tell you this. as the minister - for the public. applause. and let me tell you this. as the minister for i tell you this. as the minister for procurement, i won�*t sign a single penny that goes to a company that exploits its workers or doesn�*t pay its taxes. exploits its workers or doesn't pay its taxes. �* �* ,, exploits its workers or doesn't pay its taxes._ conference, | exploits its workers or doesn't pay i its taxes._ conference, we its taxes. applause. conference, we will stand out — its taxes. applause. conference, we will stand out the _ its taxes. applause. conference, we will stand out the tory _ its taxes. applause. conference, we will stand out the tory sleaze - its taxes. applause. conference, we will stand out the tory sleaze that i will stand out the tory sleaze that has polluted our politics and corrupted our democracy. the racket is over, their time