Full text of Clair Hawkins' speech to Conference:
Clair Hawkins, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Dover & Deal.....................
"
I'm thrilled to have been selected to front the fight for my home constituency. A constituency of the White Cliffs, the former East Kent Coalfields, and the Port of Dover - (which is hanging under threat of privatisation, something the people of Dover & Deal will not accept and the Tory-led Government must not allow).
Tories when in charge have generally signalled bad news for jobs in Dover & Deal. Closing the pits in the 80's, restructuring at the port in the 90's, the loss of thousands of jobs at nearby Pfizer, and right now many people and families are suffering from the failed economic policies of the Tory-led Government in Dover & Deal, a constituency that shows why the South must be at the heart of Labour's campaign to rebuild the economy and rebuild Britain.
Conference, we know Tory austerity isn't working, their priorities, their understanding, they're all wrong. In Dover District 9% of 18-24 year olds are unemployed, a tragic waste of talent and potential.
As well as on the doorstep, I see the consequences of government cuts and ideology in my day job with Skills Factory, a Coalfield Regeneration Trust funded scheme to support people into employment and training. I see people with disabilities and facing barriers to employment being hit hard, very often by Atos - which is why it is absolutely right that Labour has committed to a thorough review of the Work Capability Assessment.
I also speak to many people who are underemployed, forced into part-time work when they want full-time employment or facing an uncertain future on a short-term or zero hours contract.
I've spoken to many families facing a cost of living crisis, people in work and on benefits finding it difficult to pay their bills with rises in food, energy and transport costs. In Deal I am supporting churches and community groups in starting a Foodbank. But I find the need for this a disgrace. The Welfare State should be the safety net, it shouldn't need one.
When Labour left office in 2010 the economy was growing but under this Tory-led Government borrowing has increased, national debt has gone up, we are in a double-dip recession and the government's own deficit reduction targets are pretty much out the window.
It is Labour with the plans to rebuild the economy, big ideas to Rebuild Britain, not break up and sell-off Britain. Big ideas to take on the vested interests of the banks and the energy companies. Big ideas to provide more apprenticeships and affordable housing.
That is why I am proud to be a Labour Candidate and would be proud to return my home constituency to Labour, ensuring we deliver a Labour Government and deliver real change for the people of Dover & Deal.
"
