ARRIVING in Liverpool for Labour Party Conference, my first under a Labour government, was a new sensation. Rather than speeches about plans in opposition, we’d talk about policies to actually implement – policies to improve the lives of people in Durham. Here are my highlights!

Labour’s New Deal for Working People offers the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. With proposals like the introduction of “day-one” employment protections, the ending fire and rehire and improved rights for maternity and sick pay. For too long the world of work has been rigged in favour of bad bosses; now, Labour has a plan to make work pay, and it is coming to a workplace near you!

Our NHS was described as “broken but not beaten”. An apt description after 14 years of Tory-led governments. Labour will reform our healthcare system to make it the envy of the world again. The creation of a National Care Service will protect care professionals and we’ll ensure preventative care, precision medicine and personalised treatment are available to the many, not just the wealthy few. We’ll pick our NHS up off its knees and transform it to an NHS fit for the future.

The Prime Minister announced “homes will be there for heroes”. Veterans sleeping on our streets is an injustice and Labour will repay those who served us and house all veterans in housing need. The promise of a roof over their heads was also made for care leavers and victims of domestic abuse, giving them the security they deserve.

Tory privatisation of rail left us with a system that only serves the rich. We have bus operators putting profits ahead of passengers. Constituents in Esh or Brandon shouldn’t wait an hour for a bus to Durham, and rail passengers shouldn’t pay eye-watering fares for unreliable services. Privatisation of transport will be a thing of the past as Labour brings trains and buses back under public control.

A Hillsborough Law will finally be introduced. The new legislation will introduce a legal duty of candour to all public bodies, with potential for criminal sanctions for any official, or authority, that misleads or obstructs investigations. Campaigners have fought for justice for 32 years, Labour will proudly deliver this law that people should never have needed to fight so hard to get.

Labour will soon publish plans for a new industrial strategy for Britain. This strategy will drive long-term growth in our manufacturing and service sectors, unlocking investment and creating jobs – including in the North East. We’ll make it clear that Britain is open for business once again.

Labour’s “armoury of clean power” of onshore and offshore wind – solar, nuclear, tidal, hydrogen and carbon capture were highlighted, all part of our mission for clean power by 2030. As we celebrated the clean, green, power of the future, past generations were honoured as Labour promised to right the scandal of the mineworkers’ pension scheme and deliver justice to mineworkers and their families.

I was pleased to meet anti-poverty campaigners, trade-unionists, human-rights organisations and charities, particularly those my constituents had asked me to speak to. This simply scratches the surface of many positive announcements. I’m so hopeful for the months and years ahead. We’re rebuilding Britain from its foundations after 14 years of Tory mismanagement, but we’ll get there. I’m sure.