Affordable childcare is a Labour priority

Angela Rayner

AFFORDABLE childcare designed to improve children's life chances and help parents back into work will be a top priority for a Labour government, the shadow education secretary declared during yesterday's conference.

Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton and Failsworth, is launching a taskforce to "transform early years provision for every family in the 21st century".

In a speech to conference, the shadow cabinet minister described how Labour's Sure Start centres helped her fulfil her ambitions after she left school at 16, pregnant and with no qualifications.

She said: "Some Tories look down their noses at me, because, as you can hear, I wasn't born with a plum in my mouth. I get snobbery too from some pundits and commentators, from the hate-filled trolls on social media.

"Some of the Tories say: 'she left school at 16, she doesn't have a university degree, what does she know about education?'

"I say, I may not have a degree - but I have a Masters in real life. I understand that every parent wants the best for their child. Because I want the best for my children too. And I tell you as a northern, working class mum, I won't accept anything less for my children - and for your children.

"I left school at 16, pregnant, with no qualifications. Some may argue I was not a great role model for today's young people. The direction of my life was set. But something happened.

"Labour's Sure Start centres gave me and my friends, and our children, the help and support we needed to grow and develop."

Mrs Rayner added that excellent childcare "changes lives for the better" as she announced plans for a taskforce that will be chaired by Liz Snape, deputy general secretary of Unison.