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Gloria De Piero MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Young People and Voter Registration, in a speech to Labour’s Annual Conference, said:

I am delighted to be here with you in Brighton today.

This is my 21st Labour Party Conference - as Shadow Minister for Young People, I hope it will make me feel 21 again!

And while we’re on the subject of youth, Lord Ashcroft has taught us a thing or two about the Prime Minister’s upbringing.

It’s fair to say David Cameron and I had different starts in life.

Apparently, he was sipping champagne on Concorde aged 11. My family were on benefits and I ate free school meals.

But we did have some things in common.

Both of us joined youth societies.

He joined the Bullingdon Club. I joined Labour Students.

The Bullingdon Club met at weekends to go shooting. Labour Students met at weekends to campaign in key seats.

They’d stay up until the small hours at the Tory black and white ball. We’d stay up all night at Labour conference…..compositing.

They had some…interesting initiation ceremonies… but I had to share a flat with Tom Watson.

I don’t know who had the worst deal…

This summer our party has been given a new lease of life by the thousands – no, tens of thousands - of young people across the country signing up and joining our party

If anyone tells you, “you will never make young people care about politics” – they’re wrong.

Not only could we not fit all our young members in this hall - there are too many for Villa Park, Stamford Bridge or Anfield. Within just a few weeks I am sure Young Labour will be too big for Old Trafford. Next stop Wembley…

On behalf of all of us at Labour - thank you and welcome.

We couldn’t have stronger, more dynamic youth wings - let’s hear it for Young Labour and Labour Students.  

Labour Students gave me long days, good friends, and great nights. It gave me the chance to see a bigger picture, filling my student days fighting for everyone who needed a Labour Government.

Young people are our people. They demand a better world for themselves and others - and by goodness do they need a Labour Government.

At the last election 43 per cent of young people voted Labour - up by 12 per cent since 2010.

But this was nowhere near enough for us to win – not enough of them voted. In fact, more than half of our young people didn’t vote in May.

The Tories want to make it worse by rushing a new individual electoral registration system. This hits young people, students, black and minority ethnic communities and private renters hardest. It’s up to all of us to make sure we do not allow a million more people to fall off the register, losing their voices.

I refuse to give up on people who have given up on politics. Who can blame them? Our politics is broken and we need the next generation to help us fix it.

That’s why this week I’ve been turning up on doorsteps of young voters and…. just listening.

Clare, 19 said, “Politicians aren’t our age. They are too upper class. That’s why I don’t get politics. If they spoke in a normal way, that would help.”

22 year old Emma ‎- she’s graduated, has a masters… but can’t get a job.

19 year old Alex told me, “When it comes to politics we don’t feel we’re included”

Clare, Emma and Alex aren’t Labour members but they do need a Labour government. They need us to change our politics, deliver jobs - and, yes, to prove we’re in it for the right reasons.

I joined Labour with the simple belief that people from ordinary backgrounds should be able to get on in life. Sounds uncontroversial, right? So why is it so unusual?

Why is it that in this country, if you are born poor you are more likely to stay poor?

Sure Start centres to narrow the pre-school gap, delivered by Labour.

Educational Maintenance Allowance, introduced by Labour

50 per cent of school-leavers going to university, delivered by Labour.

Don’t let anyone tell you winning doesn’t matter.

Under this Government:

-The number of young people owning their own home down and falling.

-Maintenance grants for the poorest students – gone

-The target to abolish child poverty – gone.

-Apprenticeships for young people - down.

We build ladders for ordinary people to get on in life – the Tories take them down.

We are Labour, because we want to change people’s lives. But we know we can’t change a single life without being in government.

Conference Debates and Member’s rallies can energise us and motivate us but only by debating with the public and by rallying voters can we change lives. Only by winning power – locally and nationally – can we change lives.

Keir Hardy died 100 years ago yesterday. His historic legacy was the creation of a political party that sought representation for Labour in Parliament. Labour exists to win power, there is no virtue in opposition.

My task now will be to connect Labour with the next generation, bring people to the party that, like my 18 year old self wanted to vote Labour to give people a better chance in life. We need to use the energy of the many young people that have joined the Labour party since May to reach thousands more who need Labour to be in Government.  

Help me in my work by supporting every member of your local party, old and young to get every last person onto the electoral register, to reach out to young people and bring them to Labour, to inspire young people and give them a reason to vote with the confidence that a Labour Government in 2020 will give them back their future.

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