It’s Labour Conference Time.

There will be a review of the conference in a couple of days time, but as it’s Monday I thought I would post thoughts on what I’d like to see.

I would like to see Labour be bold.

They really need to go for it and change the headlines – not follow Reform.

The way to smash the people smuggling gangs? Don’t impact the population of the UK, hit the gangs where it hurts and stop the flow of people into their hands. Either work to improve the countries where people are fleeing from – not by forcing countries to follow our way of life but to work in partnership, or where we can’t allow legal routes that give the ability to claim asylum without having to cross the channel in a boat.

Help to grow the economy across the country. Don’t just focus on giving money to the areas that have got city mayors. There are villages, towns and cities outside of these areas that need investment. It’s not that we shouldn’t invest in the major cities like London and Manchester, but we need to see investment across the nation. That will bring the country together, rather than one place looking down on another area and feeling left out.

Make sure our public services are up to standards. Without doubt there has been improvements in the NHS – especially by the fact that the issues aren’t making headlines every night, but there is more to do. Let’s get the NHS back to it’s feet and make sure that the NHS is working to the needs of the local area it serves, not just national standards that is a tick box skill.

Bring power locally – I keep banging this drum, but I truly believe that powers need to be devolved further to local areas. This nation is too centralised and it’s decisions are made in a place that is unlike the majority of the country – the economy and transport links are nothing like outside of it. Bring it local and make it work.

There has been a suggestion about what Andy Burnham may have in store. My personal opinion is that I like him and I have always found him to be an incredible leader to look up to in the Labour movement. He is bold and you know what he stands for. It’s going to be interesting to see how that goes, I would support a Burnham leadership.

But for the time being we must be supportive of the current leader and hope he succeeds. The Prime Minister succeeding means that country succeeds.

Let’s keep the red flag flying high.