Conference cheers Rayner’s rousing speech as Labour pledges childcare taskforce

Angela Rayner today opened up about her experiences as a young mum as she said Labour would set up a childcare taskforce.

In a rousing speech to Labour party conference, Rayner announced that the group will aim to “transform early years provision” for all families.

The taskforce will be chaired by Liz Snape Assistant General Secretary at UNISON.

Rayner, shadow Eduation Secretary, drew on her own past saying “I left school at 16, pregnant, with no qualifications. Some may argue I was not a great role model for today’s young people. The direction of my life was set. ”

She argued that the Tories – who have closed 800 Sure Start Centres since 2010 – had “shut the door in the faces of our children and their parents”.

“We’ll never put political dogma ahead of the ambition of parents to do the best for their children. Excellent childcare changes lives for the better,” said Rayner.

Rayner looked back to Labour’s past, when she highlighted Labour’s strong opposition to the Tory imposition of new grammar schools.

“Tony Blair talked about Education, Education, Education. Theresa May wants Segregation, Segregation, Segregation,” she told the conference hall.

This comes after Labour announce their new education drive, which aims to mobilise their mass membership as a campaigning force. The slogan for the campaign will be “Education not Segregation”.