Hard left Labour MPs celebrate Andy Burnham's 'socialist' speech and plot to shape next manifesto

Hard-left Labour MPs have welcomed the commitments made by Andy Burnham in his first speech and are already pushing the Prime Minister to go further in the next manifesto.

Labour's Socialist Campaign Group gathered in a hotel just a stone's throw away from the main conference hall to hold a post-speech rally.

Rebecca Long-Bailey, who served as Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Business Secretary, said: "We’re considering disbanding the Socialist Campaign Group, we got a lot of socialism in Andy’s speech."

She added: "What’s clear about this Conference is that the door has been opened again to the membership to have those discussions to start shaping policy.

"Andy set out a broad vision today, and it’s up to us now to fill in the gaps… shaping the next manifesto."

Other hard-left Labour MPs were also in attendance, including Richard Burgon, Ian Lavery, Kim Johnson and Bell Ribeiro-Addy.

Following the event, Mr Burgon said: "The Labour Left is alive and kicking.

"Another fantastic, packed rally at Labour Conference, launching our new pamphlet: The Socialist Policies We Need."

Ms Ribeiro-Addy, who is a proponent of slavery reparations, authored the group's policy on asylum and immigration.

Meanwhile, ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell penned the section on restoring democracy in the Labour Party.

The Socialist Campaign Group, who were particularly critical of Sir Keir Starmer, praised Mr Burnham just minutes after the Prime Minister concluded his speech.

Mr Burnham spent much of his speech criticising Margaret Thatcher's economic legacy.

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He said: "I will make a break with the direction of the past 40 years and put Britain on a new path."

However, Mr Burnham also appeared to give a subtle nod to Mr Corbyn's election slogan during his first conference speech as Labour leader.

"Suddenly, the common wealth we had created, this party, the wealth we had created for the many was seen as an opportunity for the few," Mr Burnham said.

Setting out his plan to change Britain, the Prime Minister confirmed a strengthened Water Bill will repeal Margaret Thatcher's ban on public ownership of water companies.

He also warned firms which repeatedly fail the public could face being taken back into public control or ownership.

Mr Burnham later unveiled Great British Grid, a new publicly owned company set up to challenge private sector operators.

However, Mr Burnham is at risk of a trade union revolt over his decision to axe the triple lock.

The change, which will come into effect in 2030, will see state pensions increase every year by inflation or 2.5 per cent.

Angela Rayner, who describes herself as a proud socialist, responded to Mr Burnham's speech with her longest interview on GB News to date.

The Housing Secretary told The People's Channel: "I thought it was absolutely fantastic. I thought he levelled with the public, and he was brilliant.

"That's what people want to hear: straight talking, saying I'm going to grasp some of the challenges that this country faced and being patriotic. He got really emotional, was emotional about it.

When asked if this was a Labour reboot, Ms Rayner added: "It's getting the rocket boosters that I asked for."