UNITE the Union general secretary Len McCluskey set conference on fire yesterday with an impassioned speech in support of Jeremy Corbyn and an alternative to “austerity economics and neoliberal dogma.”

To get to a Corbyn-led socialist government, he emphasised the need for unity. 

As part of this, we must not get side-tracked by our opponents who want to stop us discussing how we will improve the living standards and public services of the majority, and will do anything to stop a future election campaign focusing on the failure of austerity and the desperate need to end it.

As McCluskey put it, “We want one thing — a progressive Labour government that will govern in the interests of working people [and] to get there we must not be side-tracked.” 

He added that “unity got us where we are, only division … can derail us now.”

McCluskey’s clear support for Corbyn’s leadership could also perhaps be more recognised by some minority elements in the CLPs who have seemingly sought to create false division between CLPs and trade union affiliates in recent days. 

As Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan pointed out, unity is strength, especially in the battles to come against the Tories.

The warm response given to McCluskey and Whelan’s speeches from across the overwhelming majority of those at conference shows that we can unite and work together across the entire labour movement.

In an important speech soon after from shadow chancellor John McDonnell, he clarified his positions, saying that he was in agreement with Corbyn’s attempts to bring the Labour Party and the country together around Brexit — against some of the media misrepresentation we have seen in recent weeks.

Central to his speech was Labour’s pledge to create a national care service, part of which would be introducing free personal care for all older people, providing help with daily tasks such as getting in and out of bed, bathing and washing, and preparing meals in their own homes and residential care.

As the Morning Star reported on its front page yesterday, this would transform the lives of millions of people, who have faced ever-increasing desperate situations and poverty due to years of callous Tory cuts.

McDonnell also outlined more of Labour’s progressive policies, including restoring full trade union rights, capping rents, building a million new homes, a £10 real living wage as the minimum wage, a reduction in the next decade of the average working week to 32 hours and much more besides.

He also committed to ending in-work poverty within the first term of a Labour government.

This is the “investment not cuts” agenda we can win the election on, unite people behind and that we need to focus on. 

If we are going to do this, then the left has to play its part on prioritising popularising Labour’s alternative.

And on this agenda, we saw some brilliant and personal contributions from both CLP and union delegates, including on the need to end outsourcing and for a real industrial strategy to transform those places that have been left behind by decades of neoliberalism.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. As McDonnell said as he closed his speech, “There’s an old trade union saying that ‘the cause of labour is the hope of the world.’ Here in Britain it’s the Labour Party carrying that hope,” and this is “the hope of a world where the riches of our planet are shared. The hope of a world with the chance for everyone to fulfil their full potential.”

Today is another busy day, with highlights including a vital Brazil Solidarity Initiative fringe at 12.30pm at the Brighton Hotel with Richard Burgon, Brazilian speakers and more, and the brilliant Socialist Campaign Group rally at the World Transformed Marquee at 7.30pm.

This column was filed before the debate on Brexit, so I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere for the latest on that!

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