Check against delivery

Conference, On behalf of Catherine and myself I want to begin by thanking the Party in Scotland for the support you have given us over the last five years and for giving us the honour once again of leading Labour's team for the European elections.

It's a team we are proud to lead - Mary Lockhart, Paul McAleavey, Kirsty Connell and Nasim Khan - bring  a wealth of knowledge, experience and diversity unmatched by any of the other Parties.

Everyone of us understands the huge importance of these elections for the Labour Party we know that every vote will count in demonstrating that we are in good shape for the forthcoming general election, ready to kick the Nats out of government in Scotland and able to regain our place as the first Party of local government.

It's not going to be easy - we are going to need the hard work of every activist but the good news is we have a record of achievement none of our opponents can compete with -

In the area of social policy, working with a Labour Government, we have delivered since 1997

• Equal treatment for Part time and Fixed Term workers
• 4 weeks paid annual leave, longer rest breaks and shorter working hours
• Improved health and safety rights
• vital rights for Temporary Agency Workers

For the consumer we have delivered:

• improved safety standards for toys
• rules to protect people from rogue traders
• doubled cash compensation for stranded rail and air passengers

For the planet we have delivered a package of measures designed to significantly cut CO2 emissions.

And equality has been at the heart of our work, we have delivered European wide laws against discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, disability age and sexual orientation.

We strive in everything we do to put people first and create a fairer Europe.

But the Tories are a caring Party now - aren't they?

If you want to see the true Tories look at Europe -

Part of the biggest group in the European Parliament but they want to leave. Because they would rather sit with a collection of lunatic fringe, ‘bam-pot’ right wingers.

They want us out of the social chapter eroding the rights of hard working people.
Conservatives claim that globalisation makes it necessary for people to work longer and harder.

But we know that globalisation does not make this inevitable - only bad politics does. It's about working smarter not longer.

On climate change some of their MEPs even deny its existence thereby ignoring overwhelming scientific evidence and acting irresponsibly in the face of the serious threat to our planet.

On equality they voted against a report calling for fundamental rights for all EU citizens.

And when it comes to the financial crisis they say adapt to the market.

We say shape our future.

They follow the market, we follow our convictions.

So much for the Tories. If you think the Liberals would be any better look at their record in the Parliament.

With British Liberals in the driving force they have consistently voted with the right in the European Parliament over the last five years.

Then there are our dear friends the Nats. They will talk about climate change, about citizen's rights and democracy.

They talk while we invest all our efforts in delivering.

They tell us in Scotland that they cannot deliver on manifesto promises

• to reform the Council Tax
• create a Scottish Futures Trust
• the abolition of student debt
• grants for home buyers
• or indeed do virtually anything.

We knew they were making empty promises but how do they justify their impotence? Oh they say we only have 47 out of 129 MSPs.
So what value should we put on their European manifesto when they will have 2 out of 750 MEPs.
We should give it as much credibility as their 2007 manifesto now has - none.
Contrast that with us. We will be fighting the European election on a common manifesto with 33 socialist and social democratic parties.

Together we will continue our work to:

• relaunch the economy and prevent new financial crises - by creating a programme for smart, green jobs and putting in place tough new financial regulations
• We will reverse the European Court of Justice Judgments that put the right to free movement above the rights of workers
• Take action to reform the Common Agricultural Policy
• Ensure Europe plays it part in delivering the Millennium Development goals and lifting millions out of poverty
• Make sure Europe leads the world in tackling climate change at the UN conference in Copenhagen in December this year.

Conference you can be sure that the Labour MEPs you help to elect on June 4 will work closely with our many friends across Europe to deliver a fairer Scotland in a fairer Europe.
Thank you.