Hear Lucy Powell, Secretary of State for Education and Deputy Leader’s, closing speech at Labour Party Conference 2026.

Friends, what a Conference we’ve had. What a time it’s been. 

I don’t know about you but I’m buzzing. But it’s been so emotional I’m almost exhausted from it. I’ve got very little voice left, my feet hurt and I could sleep for a week!

But Conference, it’s all been so worth it. I have loved meeting and speaking to so many of you and all the chat, the vibe and the love. Conference is one big group hug!

First a couple of quick tributes – to Shabana for being a great Chair of the NEC this last year – whilst also being Home Secretary. It’s been a year of change and we’ve really valued your steady and unwavering leadership – even if your swear box is pretty full.

Can I also just mention Ann Black, stepping down after 24 years – of not quite continuous service to the NEC. Never to be matched I’m sure. You are the conscience of the Labour Party as well as its keynote taker. You are the epitome of what every great comrade should be. A special request from me – can you make sure you deposit your notes in the People’s History Museum?

Once again Liverpool has been fantastic hosts. They’ve kept us safe, ferried us around – on their locally built ferry if you’d not heard, and they’ve cleared up after us.  And there’s been quite a lot of clearing up – especially in the Pullman Bar each morning. Thank you Liverpool.

Conference we are in a great city of football. There’s been quite a big football story going around this week. The MPs were robbed against the journalists in their match on Sunday I hear.

The Prime Minister’s beloved Everton is just up the road. As a Manchester City fan myself, he’s like me – blue in football but true red in his politics.

While we’re on football, can I just say to all those United fans who have been gloating all week –  you’re still crap and you know you are. 

Conference, after this week I think we can all agree we have a Premier League Cabinet. Shabana in central defence – going in two footed on the criminal gangs alongside Pat, who never lets a ball through.

Ed Miliband showing leadership in the middle of the pitch – man-marking the rogue international players. Angela way out on the left wing, of course Wes picking up the right. Then there’s our star striker – our leader Andy Burnham.

I’d say he’s our Erling Haaland but he’d probably prefer Tim Cahill – for those who don’t know, he’s an one of Everton’s star strikers. 

But didn’t Andy do well conference? What a deeply personal, powerful and hopeful Leader’s speech. It’s put fire in our bellies and hope in all our hearts.

The country needs big change. People have been crying out for big change. And they keep voting for it.

Andy’s absolutely right that incremental change just won’t cut it in the political times we’re in. It’s so refreshing and clarifying to now have such a clear destination of travel. We’re all here for that journey.

Conference I said on Sunday, we must make and win the big arguments. We’re in a big battle of ideas, a big battle of values, a big battle of different visions we have for the future of this country.

We believe that progressive change really can improve lives for the better – investing in people, in places, with a strong safety net of good public services where everyone, no matter their background or where they’re from, can flourish. Opportunity and justice for all – that’s the progressive case for change and I believe there’s a clear majority for that in this country.

Our opponents have a very different set of values, a different vision. They’re for trickle-down economics that never actually trickle down.

They’re for deregulation and a free for all. They believe that there is no such thing as society, they would have a dog eat dog world. That’s not the solidarity and collectivism that we all believe in.

Because you only have to look at their reactions to Andy’s speech to see the contest that we’re in. And let’s not forget all those vested interests who absolutely don’t want a Labour government.

I mean Conference, today’s Tories. What to say. Even though they got relegated to the second division, Kemi Badenoch still can’t score.

They’ve substituted their Shadow Chancellor for the guy that helped write Liz Truss’ disastrous mini budget. The crowd stopped cheering years ago when the public gave them a red card.

Let’s make sure we beat them this week, next week and every single week on that pitch. 

And then you’ve got Reform. With their dodgy foreign money. Trying to buy the league – just like Chelsea.

Nigel Farage is no friend of working people. He’s more at home in the private clubs of Mayfair, than working men’s clubs. He’s so full of rubbish he spent the summer arguing with a bin.

Conference we’re the party making the big arguments about the big problems the country faces and how we’re going to go about fixing them.

There’s a big argument to be had about the economy. Using public procurement and insourcing to reindustrialise communities, public control for public good, to get bills down and help the economy grow again, to unleash power into every postcode, to deliver bottom up not trickle down economics.

And we say to reimagine the state requires boldness, bravery and big ideas.

A National Care service free at the point of use.

A new deal for young people with education and training for the exciting jobs of the future.

A new way of doing politics, problem solving not point scoring, building consensus and taking people with us.

And standing tall on the world stage with a moral mission and our values guiding us. 

And yes a new relationship with our closest partners in Europe .

This week Conference, we’ve been given clear direction. A clear vision. A clear agenda.

Now its our job to take those arguments into every workplace, every community, onto every doorstep to enthuse and mobilise and activate people once again for Labour. 

If you like what you hear, join us. Get your friends to join us. Get your colleagues to join us.

This is the fight of our lives and we need you to do it with us too. 

Conference were now entering the last week of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election too. If you hadn’t noticed, there’s a big contest happening there.

We’re telling our Labour story. A story of hope. Sagal Abdi-Wali – our brilliant candidate. She came to Britain as a child refugee, fleeing a war-torn country. Educated in great Labour Camden schools, she’s been giving back to her local community ever since.

Reform say she has no right to become an MP because she wasn’t born here. So Conference, we’re going to throw everything at getting her elected, aren’t we?

Because if Sagal loses then we all know who wins. No, not those in the hypnotherapy business, but those in the hate business.

Conference we cannot let that happen.

So Conference, as we leave Liverpool – we’re match fit. It’s all to play for but we’ve got to keep our eye on the ball. To be disciplined. Play as one Labour team. Boldly. Authentically. Confidently Labour. 

In the year ahead, I promise as your Deputy Leader I’ll fight for our values. In government. On the airwaves. On the doorsteps. With you. For you. Alongside you.

Taking the fight to our opponents. Together we will win the battle for ideas. The battle for attention. The battle for the soul of our country.

Conference, we can and we will hope again.