LOCAL Labour councillors in Bridgwater have responded to Keir Starmer's keynote speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool this week.

Councillor Mick Lerry, Mayor of Bridgwater, welcomes Keir Starmer's long-term approach to "national renewal for the people of Bridgwater and surrounding area.”

"Labour will have to face the challenges and make sure that they will  turn back the time of decline and that there will be a renewal and rebuilding of the nation," said Mayor Lerry.

"Keir said Labour will speed ahead with net zero, with Great British Energy, new jobs new investment and Technical Colleges to support the new career opportunities.

"Britain becoming self-sufficient in clean energy, supported by a National Wealth Fund. Private and Public working together for the interests of the country.

"Trade Union rights restored to create a climate of good employee relations that will benefit working people and businesses.”

Bridgwater Councillor Jacqui Solomon was in attendance at the conference, and said: "I am proud to say that the key issue of violence against women was debated in depth and unanimously carried with targets set to reduce cases by 50% with measures including dedicated “rape courts” and domestic violence experts taking 999 calls."

Bridgwater Labour leader Councillor Brian Smedley thinks Keir Starmer is ready to 'build a new Britain' if he gets into power at the next election.

"Keir Starmer has now laid out his vision of a contract between politicians and people as the way forward," said Cllr Smedley.

"Surrounded by flags he said we need to ‘build a new Britain’ and he said ‘we are the builders’.

"He needs to get into power to even start this process, and that’s what this conference was all about - proving that Labour is ready for this challenge.

"He’s promising stability, he’s saying our purpose in politics is to ‘shoulder the burden for working people’ - he’s right, it is."

"Labour hasn’t been in Government that much since it was founded in 1900, but when it was it was at crucial moments in history. 1945, when the world needed a new start after world war 2, then in 1964 when Britain needed a technological revolution to encapsulate the progressive years of the 1960s."

Somerset Labour leader Councillor Leigh Redman was also in attendance at the conference, and commended Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner.

"At last building the right sort of houses, in the right places, for those that need them most," Cllr Redman said.

"I was really pleased to hear from our deputy leader, Angela Rayner, about the new deal for workers.

"I really do hope that the small print reflects the intent, because it is only Labour that can make work pay."