by our parliamentary reporter @TrinderMatt

A COMPLIANT billionaire press and Sir Keir Starmer’s assault on the left have let the Tories off the hook during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Morning Star’s Labour conference fringe meeting heard. 

Parliamentarians and trade unionists discussed the impact of the crisis and the need for independent media at Monday’s packed event, chaired by the paper’s editor Ben Chacko.

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said Tory ministers had blood on their hands after more than 150,000 deaths during the pandemic, yet the Labour leadership only seem interested in “a load of bloody rule changes.”

On Sunday, conference delegates narrowly backed last-minute proposals from Sir Keir’s team to hand more powers to MPs in future leadership elections at the expense of rank-and-file members and affiliated groups.

Unite chief of staff Andrew Murray slammed Sir Keir’s hypocritical calls for a “contribution society” after his volte-face over a £15-an-hour minimum wage, backed during his leadership campaign but now watered down to “at least” £10 an hour. 

Solidarity was expressed with Andy McDonald, who dramatically resigned from the shadow cabinet on Monday after being pressured to reject the higher rise.

Brent North MP Barry Gardiner called for a moral crusade against Tory injustices and thanked the Star for being the only national newspaper to cover fire-and-rehire attacks on workers in depth. 

His private member’s Bill to ban the tactic will be debated by MPs next month.

And GMB general secretary Gary Smith said the paper had a vital role to play in rebuilding the labour movement and bringing “unity and solidarity” to the cause. 

Attendees also heard from Labour MSP Katy Clark on the need for workers to fight for their rights, and psychiatric nurse Rheian Davies, who warned of a worsening mental illness epidemic amid health cuts.