'Never again will we take Doncaster for granted', pledges Labour leader in speech from new town library

And Labour leader Keir Starmer used the new building as a backdrop to promise his party would not take the town or those like it for granted.

In an online broadcast, his first conference speech as Labour leader, he set out his vision for the UK and urged voters to "take another look at Labour", adding: "We are under new leadership."

Arriving accomanied by Doncaster’s mayor Ros Jones, he opened his speech outlining his Doncaster connections, in front of the facade of what was once the Doncaster girls high school.

He said: “I’m delighted that we’re here in Doncaster. My wife’s mum was born and grew up here – just next to the racecourse. We’re regulars here. Visiting family friends but also to go to the Leger. Though of course sadly not this year.”.

He claimed the Government had lost control over the coronavirus crisis, adding he wanted this to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in, putting family first embodying decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security.

On Brexit, he said the debate between Leave and Remain was over but British business, working people and the country needed a deal and if the Prime Minister failed to get one, he would be failing Britain.

He finished: “We’re not going to win back those we’ve lost with a single speech or a clever policy offer. Trust takes time.

“It starts with being a credible Opposition. With taking the job seriously. That’s what we will do.

“So to those people in Doncaster and Deeside, in Glasgow and Grimsby, in Stoke and in Stevenage, to those who have turned away from Labour, I say this: we hear you.

“Never again will Labour take you or the things you care about for granted. And I ask you: Take another look at Labour.

“We’re under new leadership.

“We love this country as you do. This is the country I grew up in and this is the country I will grow old in. And I want it to be the country I know it can be.”