Full speech: Tom Watson at Labour party conference

Hello, Conference. Thank you for being here in this great city, at this historic gathering of the greatest movement for social change our great country has ever known. It’s a privilege to address you. Thank you.

I’d better get the difficult stuff out of the way: Saturday’s result, whatever you think of the man, whatever he’s done, how can Ed Balls be bottom of the leader board on Strictly Come Dancing? Strictly, of course, is a hot bed of media-obsessed prima donnas and harsh critics slating your every move. You’d think after a decade in Parliament Ed would have done better than that. Disappointing, Ed, to be honest.

Whereas I have always aimed to be outstanding in my field, except when, at quite a critical point this year, I was just out, standing in a field. Meanwhile the Lib Dems are trying to get back onto the field, of course. Pitching to our supporters.Tim