Day one  Day two

Day three Day four

Day 5 - Thursday 1st October 2009

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13:54 Coverage of David Miliband's speech has been fairly positive so far. The Guardian's Toby Helm writes "Although at times David Miliband talked so slowly in his speech that it seemed it might sputter out altogether, when you put the individual words together it was quite powerful stuff.

On CoffeeHouse, James Forsyth writes: "If there was an award for most improved conference speaker it would go to David Miliband. Last year his lacklustre effort helped put an end to his putative leadership challenge. This year he showed delegates why he might be up to the job of being Labour leader after the next election."

However Benedict Brogan is less impressed with Miliband's attacks on the Tories: "Put aside that the facts of the new Tory Europe group don’t match this hysterical rhetoric, it’s the tone that jars. He goes on to accuse David Cameron of lacking leadership or judgement, but he should show some himself and leave the jackboot stuff to others. There will certainly be plenty to say about the Tories and Europe in coming days.

12:50 Labour publish campaign document "A Choice for Britain" - in the foreword Gordon Brown writes:

"By 2015, we want our country to be fairer, greener, more prosperous and democratic. A new Labour Government based on our enduring mission to offer everyone, not just the privileged few, the chance to succeed. The Choice for Britain gives you the ammunition to make and win the arguments: to help us fight and win and serve."

12:39 Phil Woolas tells the Daily Politics that there was none of the nigglyness and division of last year's Labour conference this year - he concedes that the Cabinet was divided in Manchester last year.

12:35 Harriet Harman gives her closing speech to conference - read it in full here.

She is full of praise for Peter Mandelson:

"And I want to pay tribute to Peter Mandelson’s speech

Tony Blair said that new labour will have come of age when Labour loves Peter

Gordon talked about his special relationship with Peter.

And as for me and Peter, I think it’s taken us both by surprise.   Things are moving so fast I’m even thinking of taking him home to meet my mum."

And concludes on a fighting note:

"We are determined.

We are committed.

Together we’ll fight for those we represent.

Together we’ll fight for a prosperous and fair Britian.

And most importantly, we’ll fight to win."

11:55 David Miliband addresses conference: "The earth does revolve around the sun, but not the one printed in Wapping."

He goes on to attack the Tories position on the European Union: "In the European Parliament the Tories sit with a collection of outcasts.

"Last week on the BBC, and you should go through the transcript, Eric Pickles, the Chairman of the Conservative Party, explained without a hint of shame that we should not condemn one of their new allies, the 'For Fatherland and Freedom' party, who every year celebrate the Latvian Waffen SS with a march past of SS veterans, because they were only following orders.

It makes me sick. And you know what makes me sicker? No one in the Tory party batted an eyelid.

What do they say? All you need for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent. I tell you conference, we will never remain silent.

When Edward MacMillan Scott, one of their own MEPs, a former leader of the Tory Group in Europe, took these people on, and won the Vice Presidency of the European Parliament, defeating a man denounced by the Chief Rabbi of Poland for an anti semitic, neo Nazi past, what did the Tories do to MacMillan Scottt? They chucked him out of the Tory Party.

It's tempting to laugh at the Tory policy on Europe.

But I don't want people laughing at my country because a bunch of schoolboys have taken over the government.

The Tories are not a government in waiting.  They are a national embarrassment.

David Cameron has shown not leadership but pandering.  Not judgment but dogma.  Not patriotic defence of national interest but the white flag of surrender to euro-extremists in his own party."

Read the full text of the speech here.

11:48 Siobhan McDonagh, who attempted to spark a lower ranks revolt against Gordon Brown a year ago, gives a speech urging delegates to boycott Marks & Spencer over its involvement with the Sri Lanka. Her speech is well received by the hall, but not, unsurprisingly, from Mr Brown.

11:24 International Development secretary Douglas Alexander addresses conference, praising Britain's continued commitment to overseas aid.

11:12 Paul Waugh notes that appearing on Page 3 of The Sun today is Harriet, 20.

10:42 Bob Ainsworth addresses conference - focus on Afghanistan. Read the speech in full here.

"Liam Fox claimed that Ridgeback armoured vehicles were stranded at Dubai for lack of airlift to take them to the theatre.

He accused the government of betraying our troops,

without bothering to check his facts first.

In reality, these vehicles were being sent to Afghanistan ahead of schedule.

Liam, false claims don’t just damage the government;

they risk damaging the morale of both our troops and the public.

They risk damaging the mission."

10:30 The Prime Minister's frustration following his tense interview with Adam Boulton yesterday is highlighted in many blogs this morning.

09:48 Northern Ireland secretary Shaun Woodward addresses conference - he announces that Hillary Clinton will visit Northern Ireland in the coming months. Read his speech in full here.

"Conference, we are in the last part of the journey.

The final remaining bridge to cross.

It is my abiding optimism, and of the Prime Minister, this challenge not only can, but will be met.

And Conference, in being bridged, this truly will give Northern Ireland the peace, the security.

And the prosperity and jobs, people so rightly deserve.

Let the impossible dream, now be, the lasting reality."

08:32 In the Mirror Bob Roberts claims exclusive quotes from a Labour campaign document to be published today.

“We are fighting for a better future for our country. The Tories represent a change that many cannot afford.

“This is the stark choice facing the British people at the next election. The choice will be as stark as 1945.

“It will be a battle over who is best placed to give people greater control over their lives and whether the post-recession future is one where we grow together rather than apart.”

08:15 David Miliband tells Sky News that Labour have a plan for Britain's future that the other parties can't match, and which he can speak about "with confidence and clarity".

"It’s a plan that speaks to our values and our plan for Britain.

"I think that we came here in a spirit of resilience and they’re going away with a song to sing and a hymn to hum."

07:30 Today's Times claims Labour plans to halve Britain’s deficit with spending cuts and asset sales worth £75 billion without resorting to further tax rises.

06:45 On GMTV David Miliband says that although Labour are underdogs at the next election, they have "positive answers" which the public will respond to. 

“Labour has positive answers, and that is a good basis for an election campaign. We’re the underdog, we don’t deny that. But Britain likes an underdog.”

06:31 Labour prepares for the final day of the conference, with speeches due from David Miliband, Bob Ainsworth, Harriet Harman and Shaun Woodward.