That concludes our live online coverage of Monday at the Labour Party conference. Business in the main hall resumes on Tuesday from 09.30 BST with speeches from environment spokeswoman Maria Eagle, shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint and shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh. For more of what happened today, including Ed Balls' speech, click on the Key Video tab above, or keep up with the latest programming by clicking on the Live Coverage tab. Andrew Neil will be broadcasting a round-up of events and views on Today at Conference on BBC Two from 23:20 BST. These will be available online soon afterwards.
More press comment
Some more reaction to Ed Ball's speech, from the Independent. The paper's political editor Andrew Grice notes that Labour has "softened its opposition to expansion at Heathrow Airport despite Ed Miliband's previous hostility to the building of a third runway there".
What the papers say
So what do the papers have to say about Ed Ball's announcements today? The Daily Mail concludes that the shadow chancellor's "major speech" was an attempt to "improve his economic credibility", make a pitch for the family vote, and to apologise for Labour's past "mistakes". Meanwhile, the Financial Times is headlining with: "Ed Balls's deficit hawkishness fails to impress".
Post update
Labour MP Emma Reynolds
tweets: @DanJarvisMP has written a powerful case for why vote #Labour in 2015. Really pleased to contribute. pic.twitter.com/mZeAadCes5
Post update
Director of Centre for Social Justice, Christian Guy
tweets: I had forgotten the terribly awkward silence between the end of a sentence & the hoped for applause in political party conference speeches.
Post update
Editor of PoliticsHome.com, Paul Waugh
tweets: So, is EdM going to use a 'super' mansion tax to help fund the NHS? Lots of folks joining dots in @DPMcBride blog
Post update
Labour's Deputy Leader in the Lords, Philip Hunt
tweets: Latest Ashcroft poll gives Labour 6% lead over Tories. Lab-33%. Tory 27%. L\D 9%. UKIP 17%.
'Rediscover the hope'
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis warns that the political situation in NI is at its most fragile for many years. He says the NI Executive has failed to make progress on legacy issues such as flags, parades and the past. He calls on the prime minister to help end the stalemate. It is important, he says, for NI to rediscover the hope that led to peace.
Farage petition
Stepping away from conference for a moment, UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage is urging people to sign a petition demanding that Scottish MPs stop voting on matters that only affect England. He also wants a full debate on changing the Barnett Formula, which allocates money to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The move is a response to Westminster party leaders' pledges to devolve more powers to Scotland if the country voted against independence.
Post update
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis is the last of today's big speakers. The conference is now voting on party matters.
BBCCopyright: BBC
What about Surrey?
Spare a thought for the working people of Surrey, says Labour's candidate in Guildford Richard Wilson. He said all 11 Surrey MPs were Conservative - people had "been used to voting Tory". But they have "the same struggle" and there are three food banks in Guildford, he adds.
Post update
BBC News website reader
I am very disappointed in Ed Balls' proposal to cap child benefit for a further year if Labour regain power after the next election. As a working mother I earn around £28K a year but my husband stays at home so we only have my salary to live on, but it is just over the maximum salary for working tax credits so we are not entitled to any extra benefits aside from child benefit. £20.50 a week really doesn't go very far.
Post update
The Guardian's Andrew Sparrow
blogs: My colleague Martin Kettle was in the hall for the Scottish speeches. He thinks Ed Miliband missed an opportunity. Read more
Rachel Reeves addresses conference
BBCCopyright: BBC
Unite to push on wages
Following his speech to conference this morning, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey tells the BBC's World at One programme that Labour must go back to listening to ordinary working people "and not take them for granted". He also says his union will push for an immediate increase in the national minimum wage, unsatisfied with Labour's timescale to increase it - to £8 - over the course of a five-year parliament.
Post update
Your comments on Ed Balls' speech
BBC News website readers comment on the BBC story Ed Balls sets out priorities for 'first Labour Budget'. turfssays: Mr Balls said Labour was serious about "balancing the books". How can you balance the books when the Treasury borrows money from the Bank of England at a rate of interest so there will always be a national debt? JH writes: Labour intend to increase the minimum wage to £8/hour by 2020. The current living wage for London is £8.80. How can they present this as a policy and not be ashamed? Labour are no longer the party of the people. essexash comments: Just remind us Ed, what was the deficit at the end of Labour's reign compared to what it is now?
Post update
James Kirkup and the Telegraph's political team
blog: Guess who Ed Miliband didn't thank for saving the Union from Scottish independence. Read more
Post update
Political columnist for the FT, Janan Ganesh
tweets: Most politicians say partisan hate is bad and then give in to it. I suspect Chuka Umunna means it. Never seems at ease with tribal rancour.
Post update
Jack Sommers for The Huffington Post
writes: Keith Vaz Tells Labour Party Conference To Watch Chuka Umunna And Douglas Alexander Do Gangnam Style
Balancing trick
Can Ed Balls be austere enough? That's the question our economics editor Robert Peston addresses in his latest blog. He says the shadow chancellor has a difficult trick to pull off: to be seen to be austere and fiscally righteous but not as austere as George Osborne, "because then there would be little reason to vote Labour".
Post update
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie said that in order to rebuild trust Labour "can't make promises that we can't afford to keep". He said the party must prove that it is prepared to take "tough decisions" - and insisted Labour could balance the nation's books.
Post update
BBC's Chris Mason, in Manchester
tweets: Ed Balls announces cuts to child benefit if Labour win election. My report for @bbcnews @bbcone @bbcpolitics
Prentis pay plea
Labour must stand up for the squeezed middle, says Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, but it must also look after "our betrayed base". He says hardworking people are having to make appalling choices - buy food or stay warm. Unison's NHS workers in England have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay. Mr Prentis is calling on the Labour leadership to support Unison members.
Post update
Labour MP Chris Bryant
tweets: @RachelReevesMP just proved what an excellent Secretary of State she'll be - and what a difference labour will make on poverty and welfare
Trust and the economy
Do voters trust Labour to run the economy? That's what the World at One's Martha Kearney was asking earlier today on BBC Radio 4. She spoke to local residents in Manchester and Ipsos MORI's head of political research, Gideon Skinner.
Post update
Labour candidate Jamie Hanley
tweets: @RachelReevesMP giving excellent speech #lab14 confirming Labour will scrap #bedroomtax and make work pay
Post update
Editor of Total Politics, Sam Macrory
tweets: Scotland snub! Ed Miliband thanks Darling, Murphy, Alexander, Sarwar, Harman, campaigners everywhere. But no mention of Gordon Brown #Lab14
Post update
Assistant editor, The Spectator, Isabel Hardman
tweets: Ooohh. Ed Miliband thanks the unions who bravely took a stand and said UK was better together. Not a dig at Len McCluskey and Unite at all.
Post update
Mike
To be honest I would not let Ed Balls loose with my change let alone the nation's finance. And believe me two Eds are not better than one!
Post update
Mail Online deputy political editor, Tom McTague
writes: Winston Churchill was a 'racist and white supremacist' claims Labour candidate, to the fury of the war leader's grandson. Read more
Smile for the camera
Here's Ed Miliband on stage with colleagues involved in the campaign to keep Scotland a part of the United Kingdom. Cue music and a jolly clap-along.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves says her first act if Labour came to power would be to scrap the "bedroom tax" - the changes to housing benefit that the government calls the "spare room subsidy". Ms Reeves says: "That day cannot come soon enough." She adds that she has written to the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg today urging him to support Labour on this issue.
Post update
BBCCopyright: BBC
Ed Miliband and senior Labour members look on as Alistair Darling - who led the Better Together campaign - discusses the Scottish referendum resultImage caption: Ed Miliband and senior Labour members look on as Alistair Darling - who led the Better Together campaign - discusses the Scottish referendum result
Post update
Thanks all round from the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, for the part played by key Labour figures in the Better Together campaign. MPs, MSPs, unions and party workers all got a mention. Joking that it was starting to sound a bit like the Oscars, Mr Miliband called the major players up on stage for a photo-call.
Mood box
What do Labour Party delegates think about plans to limit Scottish MPs' voting rights on English matters? Daily Politics reporter Adam Fleming took the mood box - an unscientific test with a box and plastic balls - to get reaction from the conference in Manchester. He asked delegates whether they thought Scottish MPs should be banned, or not, from voting in Westminster on matters that only affect England. Here's their verdict.
'Moral crusade'
A passionate speech from the Scottish Labour leader, Johann Lamont. She calls hunger a moral crime and says Labour's goal is a "truly just society". If the Labour party is not a moral crusade, she says, "then we are nothing".
Post update
Nick Hunt
tweets: @BBCPolitics Increase the minimum wage, scrap the bedroom tax. Who'll pay? Haven't we had enough of Labour's tax and spend culture? #Labour
Post update
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont's speech received a very warm welcome from conference delegates.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
Alan Anderson
tweets: @BBCPolitics Whilst I understand the theory, are there any real examples of England suffering as a result of Scottish MPs involvement?
Post update
Labour MEP Richard Howitt
tweets: Leader @GlenisWillmott told #Lab14 Conference that @EuroLabour MEPs will never support a #TTIP EU-US trade deal which includes our #NHS
Scotland's lesson on politics
The Shadow Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran says the Scottish people have "taught us a lot about our politics". While it was great to have the backing of David Bowie and David Beckham, she said, it was more pleasing to have support from "ordinary people".
Darling's call to engage
Alistair Darling has told conference that Labour needs to make sure it continues to engage the enthusiasm of people who do not belong to any political party. Mr Darling, who chaired the Better Together campaign, warned that, for some, the constitution is a "convenient shield" from tackling problems that people face.
Post update
Mike B
tweets: @BBCPolitics Its one thing to be split over the EU & Euro (Tories 1997) another to be split over democracy for English taxpayers #Labour!
Post update
Clifford Chapman
tweets: @BBCPolitics, Labour needs to support the working, too many people are not on permanent contracts and who are not in a pension scheme.
Post update
@wildgeeza
tweets: Discriminating against stay at home parents, @edballsmp thinks it's OK to pay someone else to look after them. #allAboutTheTax @BBCPolitics
English votes -
Shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran is addressing the hall and pays tribute to Alistair Darling - also on the stage - for leading the Better Together campaign. And she singles out for praise former PM Gordon Brown who "electrified" the campaign.
Post update
Harry Hall, Wiltshire
It's widely acknowledged that 1% of taxpayers pay nearly a third of all personal income tax. And the coalition government has taken millions out of tax, or reduced their tax bills, by increasing the personal allowance. So it is plainly untrue when Balls says that under this government the "majority" are being taxed more heavily and "the rich" are not paying their share.
Post update
Allan, Pontllanfraith
It is quite clear that Labour are signed up to the EU. If the EU decide to extend health service provision to private providers how are Labour going to square that circle? Labour has allowed NHS in Wales to degenerate.
Post update
Policy Development Manager for @IPSEwestminster, George Anastasi
tweets: Entrepreneurialism in education is one of IPSE's major policies- great to hear @IainWrightMP say the same thing at #Lab14
Post update
In just a few moments the afternoon session of Labour conference will get under way. Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves will deliver a speech on work and business, following on from Chuka Umunna's address this morning. That will be followed by an address from shadow Northern Ireland Office secretary Ivan Lewis.
Post update
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker spoke earlier.Image caption: Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker spoke earlier.
What's next?
Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves and shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis are the lead speakers in the afternoon session, which runs from 14:15 BST to 16:00 BST.
Miliband speculation
Nick Robinson
Political editor
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson says it is clear from the "rhetoric" that Labour's preparing the way for a big announcement tomorrow from Ed Miliband on the NHS.
Unite's view
Len McCluskey, the general secretary of Unite, tells BBC Radio 4's World at One the Labour Party needs to listen to ordinary working people instead of taking them for granted. He and his union, Unite, which gave over £3m to Labour in 2013, have had some differences with the party in recent years.
No extra borrowing
On BBC Daily Politics, Rachel Reeves - shadow Work and Pensions Secretary - is being challenged over Labour's economic and fiscal policy commitments. She says the proposals add up to "several billions" of pounds of savings to go towards deficit reduction. Andrew Neil presses her about Ed Balls' announcement that no proposals for any new spending will be paid for by additional borrowing. Ms Reeves tells him there would be no extra borrowing for capital investment.
Post update
Paul Cameron
What sort of messages are Labour sending? Shouldn't Balls be proposing plans to make multinational companies pay their fair share in tax? Taking money off the poorest and most in need is a disgrace, after months of moaning about the cost of living. You couldn't make it up!
The message?
Nick Robinson
Political editor
The message Ed Balls wanted to go to voters via the media was "I'm tough on spending", the BBC's political editor told Daily Politics. The message to the party was the list of all the things that could be changed, minimum wage, raise minimum wage, jobs guarantee for the young etc. But Nick Robinson said he was most interested by the targeting of business - such as Balls pointing out Labour's desire to stay in the European Union and also "in code" suggesting Labour could back Heathrow expansion.
Labour conference breaks until 1415
Well, that brings the morning session to an end. Delegates will take a lunch break now but live action on the conference platform resumes at about 14.15BST, beginning with a speech from shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves.
Post update
Assistant editor, The Spectator, Isabel Hardman
tweets: Is #lab14 plan to drop shad cab rabbits and instead have a mighty rabbit, a sort of capybara of an announcement, in Miliband's speech?
Post update
Deputy Political Editor, The Times, Sam Coates
tweets: Ed Balls speech - only new announcement is that no manifesto promises will be paid by extra borrowing
Leadership team clap Ed Balls
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
Political sketch writer, Telegraph, Michael Deacon
tweets: Ed Balls reaches into hat. Roots around fruitlessly. Shakes hat out. Small brown heap thumps softly onto floor. Rabbit has died of boredom
Labour's 'first Budget'
Labour - under Ed Miliband's leadership - can deliver the change Britain needs, Ed Balls tells the party. As he draws to a conclusion, the shadow chancellor lists a series of measures the party would include in its first Budget, including an energy bills freeze, a jobs guarantee for all young people, a business rates cut, a British Investment Bank, an end to the "bedroom tax" and tax cuts "for millions - not millionaires".
Post update
Columnist and leader writer for @TheTimes, Tim Montgomerie
tweets: Lots of attacks on newspapers at #lab14. Mail and Sun are "rags" says Unite's Political Director.
Europe
Mr Balls sounds a warning about a potential UK exit from the European Union - with the Conservatives promising an in/out referendum in 2017 if it wins the next election - and declared that it would be a disaster for British jobs and investment.
Delegates watching Balls speech
BBCCopyright: BBC
Housing pledge
The shadow chancellor says at least 200,000 new homes will be built a year by 2020, under the party's plans.
Labour on airport expansion
Here's what Ed Balls has told Labour's conference: "Whatever the outcome of the Howard Davies review into airport capacity, we must resolve to finally make a decision on airport capacity in London and the South East - expanding capacity while taking into account the environmental impact. No more kicking into the long-grass, but taking the right decisions for Britain's long-term future."
Devolution to cities
On devolution, Mr Balls tells conference that Labour's economic plan would also devolve power and resources not just to Scotland and Wales but to city and county regions across England,
Scrap tax cut
On corporation tax, Mr Balls reiterates that Labour would scrap the government's planned corporation tax cut to fund a reduction in business rates for small firms.
Marriage tax break
Labour would scrap the government's marriage tax break and use the money to introduce a lower 10p starting rate of income tax, Mr Balls adds.
Post update
Political Editor, The Sunday Times, Tim Shipman
tweets: Balls' calls for fiscal prudence being met by total silence in the room
Jobs guarantee
Mr Balls says change is needed to the way the economy works citing the "hollowing out" of the labour market with "low-wage, insecure employment on the rise". He reiterates Labour's plan for a tax on bankers' bonuses to fund a "Compulsory Jobs Guarantee" for young people and the long-term unemployed.
Mansion tax
The central theme of Mr Balls' speech is that Labour would balance the books "in a fairer way". As well as the 50% top rate of income tax rate, there would also be a "mansion tax" on houses worth over £2m.
Winter fuel
The winter fuel allowance for the richest pensioners 5% will also be scrapped, Mr Balls tells the hall. The 50p tax rate for "the richest 1% of people" will be brought back, he adds.
Post update
Barry Smiggins, in Newbury, Berkshire
The child benefit payments do seem to be a bit of an anomaly. My wife an I earn almost 50k each but still get the full child benefit so we put it all into ISAs for the kids. They now have over 20K towards their educations costs. It's crazy that we should be able to do this.
Child benefit
On to the much-trailed child benefit policy announcement, Mr Balls says the party will cap the rise in child benefit at 1% for a further year, and use the projected £400m saving to help pay off the deficit.
Post update
Associate Editor at Pieria.co.uk, Frances Coppola
tweets: Balls giving a balanced budget commitment. Whoever said that left-wing parties don't do austerity?
Policing
Another pledge from Balls to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners "so that we can do more to protect frontline policing".
Ministerial pay
Mr Balls tells the Labour conference that Labour would cut the pay of government ministers by 5 per cent, and freeze pay until the nation's books have been balanced.
Free schools
Mr Balls goes on to attack the government's record and gets a big cheer after saying Labour will not fund new free schools in areas where there is no shortage of school places. He also promises to repeal legislation on the NHS, to stop the "increasing privatisation" of the NHS and to scrap the "bedroom tax" - the housing benefit changes the government calls the "spare room subsidy".
Post update
Guido Fawkes
tweets: So far @edballsmp has announced plans to deal with 0.67% of the deficit. Looking for another announcement on the remaining 99.33% later...
Balancing the books
Ed Balls: "Working people have had to balance their own books. And they are clear that the government needs to balance its books too. So Labour will balance the books in the next parliament. These will be our tough fiscal rules. We will get the current budget into surplus and the national debt falling as soon as possible in the next parliament."
Mistakes on banks
It was also a "mistake" that the banks were not regulated in a tougher way, Mr Balls continues, and adds: "We should apologise for it. And I do."
Mistakes on immigration
Mr Balls hails the party's record on the national minimum wage, free nursery places and the NHS - but he says there should have been tougher rules on immigration from eastern Europe. "It was a mistake not to have transitional controls in 2004. We must change the rules in the future," he says, proposing longer transitional controls for new countries and eligibility restrictions on benefits.
Post update
Liberal Democrats
tweet: Nick Clegg: We must deliver devolution that has been promised to Scotland. No ifs, no buts.
Post update
Politics Home
tweets: Balls praises Miliband for "modernising our relationship with the trade unions" and "standing up for the victims of phone-hacking" #Lab14
Honesty
Ed Balls says that while the Tories "are deeply unpopular" and the country is "crying out for change", there is still "more to do" to show Labour can deliver that change. This includes being honest about what the previous Labour administration got right, but also where it went wrong.
Post update
Political Editor of The Sun, Tom Newton Dunn
tweets: Ed Balls speech joke klaxon: "Perhaps today the less said about elbows, the better". #Lab14
Out of touch
Mr Balls heaps praise on Labour leader Ed Miliband who he says has led the party with "courage, strength, principle and vision and he will do the same for our country". He aims fire at David Cameron and George Osborne, accusing the Conservative Party of being "out of touch". Mr Balls claims Mr Cameron's party no longer believes in its leader.
Post update
Conservative MP David Gauke
tweets: Balls complains about public sector pay freeze - which he supports.
"Relying on Labour"
Mr Balls says families, pensioners, workers and NHS staff and patients are "relying" on Labour to make things better, and urges conference to "not let them down".
Post update
Huffington Post UK's political director, Mehdi Hasan
tweets: Last conference speech till the election. Surely @edballsmp has a rabbit in the hat beyond pre-briefed child benefit/ministerial pay stuff?
Reform not driven by politicians
The shadow chancellor acknowledges the need for UK-wide constitutional reform in wake of the referendum, but insists the process should start from the people, not politicians.
Post update
Labour MP Iain Wright
tweets: Media scrum for Ed Balls' speech at #Lab14 pic.twitter.com/TlHtIYokGo
Scotland campaigners
On the Scottish referendum - which continues to dominate the headlines - Ed Balls pays tribute to every Labour member involved in the campaign for a No vote. His comments are greeted by applause.
Ed Balls speaking
BBCCopyright: BBC
'Crying out for change'
Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, tells conference that while the economy is growing again most working people are "still not seeing any benefit" from the recovery. The country is crying out for change, he says, and adds that Labour offers a "better way forward": an economy for the many, not the few.
Post update
Mrs J Pike, Bath
Capping child benefit penalises stay-at-home-Mums, of which I am one. My child is 7 and I want to be able to spend time with her while she is young. I tried working (as a legal secretary) part-time, but was constantly exhausted (I am 50!) Child benefit is most valuable to me, especially when the money which my husband earns has run out at the end of the month. I certainly won't be voting Labour…ever!
Scotland
Mr Balls stresses that Scotland did not vote for the status quo, but for greater devolution, and stresses "it is our duty to deliver on that promise - and for Wales and for the cities and regions of England too".
Ed Balls
Ed Balls is on his feet at the Labour conference, he is introduced as the next chancellor.
Ed Balls on his way...
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls arrives at conference alongside shadow work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves. Mr Balls will be addressing delegates shortly.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Socialist change
Labour should "stand before the British people as the the party of peace, equality and socialist change", Len McCluskey declares as he concludes his rabble-rousing speech to a standing ovation.
"Posh boys"
Len McCluskey dismisses David Cameron's plans for a devolution settlement saying constitutional change should not be decided by "posh boys in Chequers" but by political debate with the people. He says working people throughout England and Wales "have also had enough" and want change - and says: "Let the Scottish referendum be the tombstone on 20 years of our party's indifference to the interests of the working class".
McCluskey in action
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
Westminster Correspondent for The Herald, Kate Devlin
tweets: Appearance of Robin Southwell, boss of Airbus, at Labour conference points to the scale of problem w business Cameron faces over EU ref
Working people matter
'Work in the contemporary economy' is the theme of the current debate - being led by Unite general secretary Len McCluskey. He says the lesson of the Scottish referendum was that "working people matter, their views, their voices and their votes". He says the working class and young people had been "electrified" by political engagement.
Inquiry into blacklisting
Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, sets out Labour's plans including an increase in the National Minimum Wage to £8, an end to zero hours contracts, investment in apprenticeships, reforms to employment tribunal fees and - to much applause - an inquiry into the blacklisting of construction workers.
Post update
Labour MP Stella Creasy
tweets: Now at #lab14 2 hear @ChukaUmunna set out how who you vote for does make a difference & why we are proud to be labour pic.twitter.com/mMv6uRKrEj
Child benefit criticism
Ed Balls's planned policy announcement on child benefit has received criticism before he has had a chance to set out his plans to conference. The charity, 4children, said the proposed extension of a cap on rises in child benefit "sends out a bad message" and is one which "families won't want to hear and won't welcome". Chief executive Anne Longfield said it disproportionally affects families on low incomes who are already struggling and who have "carried the burden of the economic crisis".
Poverty in Britain
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna is on his feet again. He tells conference that better paid and more secure jobs will be central to a future Labour government's agenda. If you work hard day in, day out you should not have to live in poverty in modern Britain, he adds.
English votes
In other news, shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said that if there was a vote in the Commons on English devolution, the Labour Party would not "vote for something that wouldn't work". It comes as Prime Minister David Cameron holds a summit with key Conservative figures to discuss his plans to limit the voting rights of Scottish MPs on English issues.
Europe cont...
The EU theme is continued by shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, who is now making a speech. He says an EU exit would be bad for businesses. Labour would seek to reform and continue the UK's membership of the EU, he explains, before giving the floor to Robin Southwell, president of Airbus Group UK.
Post update
FT's deputy political editor Beth Rigby
tweets: Southwell to Labour to speak up for EU membership: "I am not here to talk politics but I hope to inform politics" #lab14 #EU
Post update
Conservative MP Stewart Jackson
tweets: No matter what Ed Balls says to @UKLabour the voters aren't listening because the party has zero credibility in failing to acknowledge past
Europe
On to Europe, the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander accuses David Cameron of "burning bridges" in Europe to appease Conservative backbenchers and warns that a British exit from the EU would threaten the UK's economic prosperity. The Conservatives have pledged an in/out referendum in 2017 - allowing time for a renegotiation of Britain's terms of membership of the EU - if it wins the next general election.
Two-state solution
Douglas Alexander reiterates Labour's position of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stresses that blockades, rockets and occupations must end to allow "meaningful" negotiations to begin.
Post update
Henry Baker in Birmingham
Families should only receive payment for one child and not every child. This country is paying people to have more children? We should cap payments at one child.
Retreat: "foolish"
Setting out a future Labour government's foreign policy agenda, Douglas Alexander warns that it would be "foolish" for Britain to retreat from the world, and tells conference the party's approach would be "proudly multilateral".
Douglas Alexander
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander is on his feet, and begins his speech by welcoming Scotland's decision to remain a part of the United Kingdom.
Post update
Nick in London
As the parent of two young children of nursery age, the removal of child benefit has had an enormous impact on our household income, and of many others. Now more of the same from labour, passing the pain to lower income families. This is compounded by the high cost of pre school childcare. Where IS the support for hard pressed working families?
Defence review pledge
Vernon Coaker announces that a future Labour government would put the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) on a statutory basis, making it mandatory for the government to hold one in the lifetime of every parliament. The armed forces needs direction, he tells delegates, claiming this has been lacking under the current government. He adds that Labour is the party of the armed forces.
Labour defence
Over to Vernon Coaker - Labour's shadow defence secretary - now. He pays tribute to the armed forces and praises the role that Scotland plays in the security of the UK.
Post update
Guardian blogger Dean Burnett
tweets: Meanwhile, at Labour HQ: "How do we get people to vote for us?" "We could slash child benefit. Everyone hates kids, yeah?" "Sounds right"
Balls speech
Just a reminder that shadow chancellor Ed Balls will be delivering his keynote speech a little later. He's scheduled to address conference from noon, but this looks optimistic as things are already running about 15 minutes behind schedule.
Post update
Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris
tweets: Heard @edballsmp on @BBCr4today talking about dangers of 'creating 2 classes of MP' - we have that already! Scots MPs vote on Devon issues
Behind schedule...
Despite conference chair Keith Vaz's best efforts, conference is running a little behind schedule this morning. We were expecting a speech from shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander's at 10.50BST but there are still some matters to be covered before he can get to his feet.
Russia-Ukraine crisis
Hugh Bayley, president of the Nato parliamentary assembly, warns that Russia is rebuilding its empire, noting President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea earlier this year. We must ask why Russia now feels bold enough to invade neighbouring countries, the York Central MP tells conference. He surmises that it is, in part, because Nato countries are disarming and cutting defence spending while Putin rearms.
Post update
Telegraph Politics
blogs: Labour minimum wage: small businesses must be 'at heart of policy-making'
Post update
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw
tweets: Great English Labour session best of #Lab14 so far determination to address English ? & deliver real devolution to English cities & regions
Gaza
Conference is turning its attention to the situation in Gaza, beginning with a short speech from Ian Gasper, of the Torridge and West Devon Constituency Labour Party. He says the UK must show its support for the Palestinians.
Pat on the back
BBCCopyright: BBC
Jim Murphy receives a congratulatory pat on the back from party leader Ed Miliband as he concludes his speechImage caption: Jim Murphy receives a congratulatory pat on the back from party leader Ed Miliband as he concludes his speech
Foreign affairs
Conference is currently debating foreign affairs, defence and international development matters. Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, takes to the stage and focuses his remarks on human rights violations in Colombia. He condemns the "persecution of those who stand up for basic rights" and says Labour must be at the forefront of an international campaign against "the violence, murder and injustices" in the country.
Post update
Brian Wheeler
Political reporter
BBCCopyright: BBC
Stuart Holmes is back. This time last year the anti-nuclear protester was being assaulted by an angry publisher on Brighton seafront, while his "No-Nukes" dog nipped at his ankles. This year the dog is wearing a muzzle.
Post update
Executive editor (digital) @ArchantDigital, Matt Withers
tweets: Politicians challenging each other to the ice bucket challenge just three weeks after everybody stopped talking about it #culturalzeitgeist
'Change the world'
Mr Murphy, who can't have had such an easy pitch to sell for quite a while, concludes by telling conference that Labour should have the confidence that it can win "and change the world for the better all over again" - and receives a round of applause from delegates.
Universal healthcare
Mr Murphy, Labour's spokesman on international development, says more needs to be done to alleviate poverty, and pledges that his first act in government would be to put universal healthcare on the negotiating table at the United Nations.
ILO funding
Shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy says a future Labour government would reverse the coalition government's "damaging" decision to cut funding for the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).
BBCCopyright: BBC
A packed hall for shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy's speechImage caption: A packed hall for shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy's speech
Post update
Labour MP Pamela Nash
tweets: Hero of the hour @jimmurphymp addresses Conference about Labours past Int Dev achievements & our ambitious future plans pic.twitter.com/8WzDusQMFQ
Post update
Editor of Politics.co.uk, Ian Dunt
tweets: Labour conference feels tired and groggy. Less than a party preparing for government than one preparing for bed.
Two crates
It's over to shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy now - who Mr Vaz says campaigned in 100 open-air street meetings across Scotland during the referendum campaign. Mr Murphy tells the hall he's grateful to be standing on a stage bigger than "two Irn-Bru crates".
European campaign
Setting out Labour's plans on Europe, Ms Willmott says the party's MEPs will refocus the EU budget to deliver jobs and growth, reform the energy markets, and work to get rid of zero-hours contracts. She receives her biggest cheer for pledging that Labour will not support any EU-US trade deal "that endangers our NHS". Ms Willmott goes on to aim fire at the PM - whom she dubs "desperate Dave" - and claims he is putting party interests ahead of the national interest.
Fancy dress snaps
Brian Wheeler
Political reporter
BBCCopyright: BBC
Caroline Flint seems to like fancy dress. Here is the shadow environment secretary with Friends of the Earth campaigners who want schools to run on solar panels (not to open on Sunday, as one dozy conference-goer thought). Just seconds earlier she was posing with Ready Teddy - the plush mascot of a campaign to ban payday loan TV ads before the watershed.
BBCCopyright: BBC
A voice from Europe
Labour's leader in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott, has taken to the stage, and is praising Labour's performance at the recent European elections in May. She says the party's MEPs are "among the strongest" in the European Parliament - and welcomes that nearly half of them are women.
Welsh powers
The Welsh first minister stresses that the Wales Bill - which devolves some tax-varying powers to Cardiff and is currently going through Parliament - must be delivered, and that progress needs to be made on the Silk Commission's latest recommendations.
Viewpoint on minimum wage
Libertarian think tank The Adam Smith Institute
blogs: £8 minimum wage hype: political trick, economic disaster, moral outrage
The future of the UK
Carwyn Jones adds to criticism of Mr Cameron's UK-wide devolution plans following the Scottish referendum, branding the PM's response "panicky". He says the future promised to Scotland must be delivered - and also calls for a constitutional convention to address the future structure of the UK.
Post update
Politics Home
tweets: Kicking off the second day of #Lab14 conference, @OwenSmithMP says Cameron's 'effing Tories' comment was a "treasured moment of sincerity"
Post update
The Telegraph's Executive Editor (Politics), James Kirkup,
blogs: English Home Rule: Ed Balls accuses David Cameron of "English nationalism". Is that a bad thing?
Post update
Bob Roberts
The usual increases in the minimum wage from now to 2019 will reach 8 pound an hour in any event, so the poverty rates will continue. People need the increase now, not in six years time.
First minister
Owen Smith welcomes to the stage Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones - and in doing so nominates him for the infamous ice-bucket challenge to raise money for charity. There are two buckets back stage "full to the brim", he informs the hall.
BBCCopyright: BBC
English votes
The shadow Welsh secretary attacks David Cameron's plans to limit the voting rights of Scottish MPs as a "tawdry trick to buy off" Tory backbenchers - and restates Labour's proposal for a constitutional convention to discuss devolution plans.
Minimum chat
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith says Labour can deliver change, by rebuilding and rebalancing the economy, and making work pay by increasing the national minimum wage to £8 a hour - by Labour leader Ed Miliband yesterday. We're getting the feeling that's a pledge which is going to get a lot of mentions this week.
Owen Smith
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith opens by declaring Labour as the party of Wales. Espousing the virtues of the United Kingdom, he welcomes Scotland's rejection of independence in last week's referendum. But he said the key message from Scotland was that Britain wants change - political, economic and no more "divisive, elitist, out-of-touch Tory government".
Welsh matters
The conference arrangements report has been agreed, and business now turns to the Welsh report - with shadow Wales Office secretary Owen Smith taking the stage.
Nitty-gritty
It's over to Conference Arrangements Committee chair Harry Donaldson now, to set out today's conference agenda.
Kick-off
And we're off. Labour MP and Home Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz begins proceedings - and makes reference to Leicester City's 5-3 win over Manchester United at the weekend. Anyone who can get the score into their speeches will get an extra 30 seconds from the chair, he quips.
Business warning
Ahead of his speech this morning, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has had to defend Labour as a "pro-business party" after former Labour trade minister Digby Jones - now a crossbench peer - warned that the party has made a "persuasive case" it is not business-friendly.
Post update
Jodie Hope, Edinburgh
Really disappointed that this is how Labour have decided to cut the deficit, targeting the ones who cannot speak up for themselves. I agree with their move to cut the deficit instead of spending money we don't have - but I disagree this hit on future generations is the "fairest" way to do it! I had always been a Labour supporter too.
Post update
Rachel Clarke
tweets: Finally made it past the gauntlet of leafletters to enter Manchester Central for the Labour Party Conference.
Post update
Jamie MacLeod
tweets: Fantastic time at the Labour Party Conference. Brilliant getting insight into the plan for a victory in 2015.
Child benefit announcement
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will announce plans to extend by one year the coalition's 1% cap on rises in child benefit, if Labour wins the 2015 general election. The move - which would save about £400m over five years - is designed to prove Labour is serious about "balancing the books".
BBCCopyright: BBC
Post update
Colin, in Southend-on-Sea
I was hoping that the tax on Child Benefit would end or be done in a fairer way. We are a single income family with 4 children, and are being very heavily taxed as I earn over £50,000pa, whereas a family with two incomes earning up to £99,999pa between them does not pay any additional taxes unless one earns over £50,000.
Post update
Paul Noonan, in Essex
Child Benefit is becoming so complex now that any savings made by reducing the amount payable is dwarfed by the huge administration costs. Bearing in mind that CB is intended for the child why not scrap it completely and ensure that all school children are entitled to free dinners, uniform and public transport to and from school.
Post update
Elaine Hoctor, in London
We have seen a huge increase in child poverty under this coalition government. Child Benefit reaches both working and non working families and extending the cap on child benefit increases to 1% will affect them all. Many families are struggling and we urgently need change for the better not more of the same.
Chequers
David Cameron is today chairing a summit of senior Tory MPs to discuss plans to limit the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs (Labour is opposed to linking the two issues). Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier this morning, shadow chancellor Ed Balls accused the PM of playing "fast and loose" with the British constitution. He said there was no "easy quick solution" to the so-called West Lothian question - where Scottish MPs can vote on English issues - but repeatedly refused to say whether it is "unfair".
Post update
Ed Miliband
tweets: A Labour government I lead will cut government ministers' pay by 5% - and block any pay rises until the books are balanced.
Scottish referendum
While the issue of Scottish independence may have been settled at last week's referendum, the story continues to dominate the headlines. Party leaders' promises of more powers for Scotland has led to growing calls for new powers for English MPs and questions over whether pledges made in the heat of the campaign will be honoured.
Work, and Northern Ireland
Also on the agenda today is a two-part session on work and business by Labour's business spokesman, Chuka Umunna, and shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves. Conference delegates will also be addressed by shadow Northern Ireland Office secretary Ivan Lewis, later this afternoon.
Day ahead
Coming up before Ed Balls, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander will be speaking about Britain's global role, from 10:50BST. Might he address comments by former Prime Minister Tony Blair this morning that the UK should not rule out sending combat troops to fight Islamic State militants on the ground?
Welcome
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of Monday's events at the Labour Party conference. Topping today's bill is shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who will deliver his speech from about noon.
Live Reporting
Pippa Simm, Alex Hunt, Victoria Park and Kristiina Cooper
All times stated are UK
Get involved
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Ed Miliband and senior Labour members look on as Alistair Darling - who led the Better Together campaign - discusses the Scottish referendum resultImage caption: Ed Miliband and senior Labour members look on as Alistair Darling - who led the Better Together campaign - discusses the Scottish referendum result 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker spoke earlier.Image caption: Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker spoke earlier. 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC Jim Murphy receives a congratulatory pat on the back from party leader Ed Miliband as he concludes his speechImage caption: Jim Murphy receives a congratulatory pat on the back from party leader Ed Miliband as he concludes his speech 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC A packed hall for shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy's speechImage caption: A packed hall for shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy's speech 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostThat's a wrap
That concludes our live online coverage of Monday at the Labour Party conference. Business in the main hall resumes on Tuesday from 09.30 BST with speeches from environment spokeswoman Maria Eagle, shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint and shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh. For more of what happened today, including Ed Balls' speech, click on the Key Video tab above, or keep up with the latest programming by clicking on the Live Coverage tab. Andrew Neil will be broadcasting a round-up of events and views on Today at Conference on BBC Two from 23:20 BST. These will be available online soon afterwards.
More press comment
Some more reaction to Ed Ball's speech, from the Independent. The paper's political editor Andrew Grice notes that Labour has "softened its opposition to expansion at Heathrow Airport despite Ed Miliband's previous hostility to the building of a third runway there".
What the papers say
So what do the papers have to say about Ed Ball's announcements today? The Daily Mail concludes that the shadow chancellor's "major speech" was an attempt to "improve his economic credibility", make a pitch for the family vote, and to apologise for Labour's past "mistakes". Meanwhile, the Financial Times is headlining with: "Ed Balls's deficit hawkishness fails to impress".
Post update
Labour MP Emma Reynolds
tweets: @DanJarvisMP has written a powerful case for why vote #Labour in 2015. Really pleased to contribute. pic.twitter.com/mZeAadCes5
Post update
Director of Centre for Social Justice, Christian Guy
tweets: I had forgotten the terribly awkward silence between the end of a sentence & the hoped for applause in political party conference speeches.
Post update
Editor of PoliticsHome.com, Paul Waugh
tweets: So, is EdM going to use a 'super' mansion tax to help fund the NHS? Lots of folks joining dots in @DPMcBride blog
Post update
Labour's Deputy Leader in the Lords, Philip Hunt
tweets: Latest Ashcroft poll gives Labour 6% lead over Tories. Lab-33%. Tory 27%. L\D 9%. UKIP 17%.
'Rediscover the hope'
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis warns that the political situation in NI is at its most fragile for many years. He says the NI Executive has failed to make progress on legacy issues such as flags, parades and the past. He calls on the prime minister to help end the stalemate. It is important, he says, for NI to rediscover the hope that led to peace.
Farage petition
Stepping away from conference for a moment, UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage is urging people to sign a petition demanding that Scottish MPs stop voting on matters that only affect England. He also wants a full debate on changing the Barnett Formula, which allocates money to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The move is a response to Westminster party leaders' pledges to devolve more powers to Scotland if the country voted against independence.
Post update
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis is the last of today's big speakers. The conference is now voting on party matters.
What about Surrey?
Spare a thought for the working people of Surrey, says Labour's candidate in Guildford Richard Wilson. He said all 11 Surrey MPs were Conservative - people had "been used to voting Tory". But they have "the same struggle" and there are three food banks in Guildford, he adds.
Post update
BBC News website reader
I am very disappointed in Ed Balls' proposal to cap child benefit for a further year if Labour regain power after the next election. As a working mother I earn around £28K a year but my husband stays at home so we only have my salary to live on, but it is just over the maximum salary for working tax credits so we are not entitled to any extra benefits aside from child benefit. £20.50 a week really doesn't go very far.
Post update
The Guardian's Andrew Sparrow
blogs: My colleague Martin Kettle was in the hall for the Scottish speeches. He thinks Ed Miliband missed an opportunity. Read more
Rachel Reeves addresses conference
Unite to push on wages
Following his speech to conference this morning, Unite general secretary Len McCluskey tells the BBC's World at One programme that Labour must go back to listening to ordinary working people "and not take them for granted". He also says his union will push for an immediate increase in the national minimum wage, unsatisfied with Labour's timescale to increase it - to £8 - over the course of a five-year parliament.
Post update
Your comments on Ed Balls' speech
BBC News website readers comment on the BBC story Ed Balls sets out priorities for 'first Labour Budget'. turfssays: Mr Balls said Labour was serious about "balancing the books". How can you balance the books when the Treasury borrows money from the Bank of England at a rate of interest so there will always be a national debt? JH writes: Labour intend to increase the minimum wage to £8/hour by 2020. The current living wage for London is £8.80. How can they present this as a policy and not be ashamed? Labour are no longer the party of the people. essexash comments: Just remind us Ed, what was the deficit at the end of Labour's reign compared to what it is now?
Post update
James Kirkup and the Telegraph's political team
blog: Guess who Ed Miliband didn't thank for saving the Union from Scottish independence. Read more
Post update
Political columnist for the FT, Janan Ganesh
tweets: Most politicians say partisan hate is bad and then give in to it. I suspect Chuka Umunna means it. Never seems at ease with tribal rancour.
Post update
Jack Sommers for The Huffington Post
writes: Keith Vaz Tells Labour Party Conference To Watch Chuka Umunna And Douglas Alexander Do Gangnam Style
Balancing trick
Can Ed Balls be austere enough? That's the question our economics editor Robert Peston addresses in his latest blog. He says the shadow chancellor has a difficult trick to pull off: to be seen to be austere and fiscally righteous but not as austere as George Osborne, "because then there would be little reason to vote Labour".
Post update
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, shadow Treasury minister Chris Leslie said that in order to rebuild trust Labour "can't make promises that we can't afford to keep". He said the party must prove that it is prepared to take "tough decisions" - and insisted Labour could balance the nation's books.
Post update
BBC's Chris Mason, in Manchester
tweets: Ed Balls announces cuts to child benefit if Labour win election. My report for @bbcnews @bbcone @bbcpolitics
Prentis pay plea
Labour must stand up for the squeezed middle, says Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, but it must also look after "our betrayed base". He says hardworking people are having to make appalling choices - buy food or stay warm. Unison's NHS workers in England have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay. Mr Prentis is calling on the Labour leadership to support Unison members.
Post update
Labour MP Chris Bryant
tweets: @RachelReevesMP just proved what an excellent Secretary of State she'll be - and what a difference labour will make on poverty and welfare
Trust and the economy
Do voters trust Labour to run the economy? That's what the World at One's Martha Kearney was asking earlier today on BBC Radio 4. She spoke to local residents in Manchester and Ipsos MORI's head of political research, Gideon Skinner.
Post update
Labour candidate Jamie Hanley
tweets: @RachelReevesMP giving excellent speech #lab14 confirming Labour will scrap #bedroomtax and make work pay
Post update
Editor of Total Politics, Sam Macrory
tweets: Scotland snub! Ed Miliband thanks Darling, Murphy, Alexander, Sarwar, Harman, campaigners everywhere. But no mention of Gordon Brown #Lab14
Post update
Assistant editor, The Spectator, Isabel Hardman
tweets: Ooohh. Ed Miliband thanks the unions who bravely took a stand and said UK was better together. Not a dig at Len McCluskey and Unite at all.
Post update
Mike
To be honest I would not let Ed Balls loose with my change let alone the nation's finance. And believe me two Eds are not better than one!
Post update
Mail Online deputy political editor, Tom McTague
writes: Winston Churchill was a 'racist and white supremacist' claims Labour candidate, to the fury of the war leader's grandson. Read more
Smile for the camera
Here's Ed Miliband on stage with colleagues involved in the campaign to keep Scotland a part of the United Kingdom. Cue music and a jolly clap-along.
Post update
Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves says her first act if Labour came to power would be to scrap the "bedroom tax" - the changes to housing benefit that the government calls the "spare room subsidy". Ms Reeves says: "That day cannot come soon enough." She adds that she has written to the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg today urging him to support Labour on this issue.
Post update
Post update
Thanks all round from the Labour leader, Ed Miliband, for the part played by key Labour figures in the Better Together campaign. MPs, MSPs, unions and party workers all got a mention. Joking that it was starting to sound a bit like the Oscars, Mr Miliband called the major players up on stage for a photo-call.
Mood box
What do Labour Party delegates think about plans to limit Scottish MPs' voting rights on English matters? Daily Politics reporter Adam Fleming took the mood box - an unscientific test with a box and plastic balls - to get reaction from the conference in Manchester. He asked delegates whether they thought Scottish MPs should be banned, or not, from voting in Westminster on matters that only affect England. Here's their verdict.
'Moral crusade'
A passionate speech from the Scottish Labour leader, Johann Lamont. She calls hunger a moral crime and says Labour's goal is a "truly just society". If the Labour party is not a moral crusade, she says, "then we are nothing".
Post update
Nick Hunt
tweets: @BBCPolitics Increase the minimum wage, scrap the bedroom tax. Who'll pay? Haven't we had enough of Labour's tax and spend culture? #Labour
Post update
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont's speech received a very warm welcome from conference delegates.
Post update
Alan Anderson
tweets: @BBCPolitics Whilst I understand the theory, are there any real examples of England suffering as a result of Scottish MPs involvement?
Post update
Labour MEP Richard Howitt
tweets: Leader @GlenisWillmott told #Lab14 Conference that @EuroLabour MEPs will never support a #TTIP EU-US trade deal which includes our #NHS
Scotland's lesson on politics
The Shadow Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran says the Scottish people have "taught us a lot about our politics". While it was great to have the backing of David Bowie and David Beckham, she said, it was more pleasing to have support from "ordinary people".
Darling's call to engage
Alistair Darling has told conference that Labour needs to make sure it continues to engage the enthusiasm of people who do not belong to any political party. Mr Darling, who chaired the Better Together campaign, warned that, for some, the constitution is a "convenient shield" from tackling problems that people face.
Post update
Mike B
tweets: @BBCPolitics Its one thing to be split over the EU & Euro (Tories 1997) another to be split over democracy for English taxpayers #Labour!
Post update
Clifford Chapman
tweets: @BBCPolitics, Labour needs to support the working, too many people are not on permanent contracts and who are not in a pension scheme.
Post update
@wildgeeza
tweets: Discriminating against stay at home parents, @edballsmp thinks it's OK to pay someone else to look after them. #allAboutTheTax @BBCPolitics
English votes -
Shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran is addressing the hall and pays tribute to Alistair Darling - also on the stage - for leading the Better Together campaign. And she singles out for praise former PM Gordon Brown who "electrified" the campaign.
Post update
Harry Hall, Wiltshire
It's widely acknowledged that 1% of taxpayers pay nearly a third of all personal income tax. And the coalition government has taken millions out of tax, or reduced their tax bills, by increasing the personal allowance. So it is plainly untrue when Balls says that under this government the "majority" are being taxed more heavily and "the rich" are not paying their share.
Post update
Allan, Pontllanfraith
It is quite clear that Labour are signed up to the EU. If the EU decide to extend health service provision to private providers how are Labour going to square that circle? Labour has allowed NHS in Wales to degenerate.
Post update
Policy Development Manager for @IPSEwestminster, George Anastasi
tweets: Entrepreneurialism in education is one of IPSE's major policies- great to hear @IainWrightMP say the same thing at #Lab14
Post update
In just a few moments the afternoon session of Labour conference will get under way. Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves will deliver a speech on work and business, following on from Chuka Umunna's address this morning. That will be followed by an address from shadow Northern Ireland Office secretary Ivan Lewis.
Post update
What's next?
Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves and shadow Northern Ireland secretary Ivan Lewis are the lead speakers in the afternoon session, which runs from 14:15 BST to 16:00 BST.
Miliband speculation
Nick Robinson
Political editor
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson says it is clear from the "rhetoric" that Labour's preparing the way for a big announcement tomorrow from Ed Miliband on the NHS.
Unite's view
Len McCluskey, the general secretary of Unite, tells BBC Radio 4's World at One the Labour Party needs to listen to ordinary working people instead of taking them for granted. He and his union, Unite, which gave over £3m to Labour in 2013, have had some differences with the party in recent years.
No extra borrowing
On BBC Daily Politics, Rachel Reeves - shadow Work and Pensions Secretary - is being challenged over Labour's economic and fiscal policy commitments. She says the proposals add up to "several billions" of pounds of savings to go towards deficit reduction. Andrew Neil presses her about Ed Balls' announcement that no proposals for any new spending will be paid for by additional borrowing. Ms Reeves tells him there would be no extra borrowing for capital investment.
Post update
Paul Cameron
What sort of messages are Labour sending? Shouldn't Balls be proposing plans to make multinational companies pay their fair share in tax? Taking money off the poorest and most in need is a disgrace, after months of moaning about the cost of living. You couldn't make it up!
The message?
Nick Robinson
Political editor
The message Ed Balls wanted to go to voters via the media was "I'm tough on spending", the BBC's political editor told Daily Politics. The message to the party was the list of all the things that could be changed, minimum wage, raise minimum wage, jobs guarantee for the young etc. But Nick Robinson said he was most interested by the targeting of business - such as Balls pointing out Labour's desire to stay in the European Union and also "in code" suggesting Labour could back Heathrow expansion.
Labour conference breaks until 1415
Well, that brings the morning session to an end. Delegates will take a lunch break now but live action on the conference platform resumes at about 14.15BST, beginning with a speech from shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves.
Post update
Assistant editor, The Spectator, Isabel Hardman
tweets: Is #lab14 plan to drop shad cab rabbits and instead have a mighty rabbit, a sort of capybara of an announcement, in Miliband's speech?
Post update
Deputy Political Editor, The Times, Sam Coates
tweets: Ed Balls speech - only new announcement is that no manifesto promises will be paid by extra borrowing
Leadership team clap Ed Balls
Post update
Political sketch writer, Telegraph, Michael Deacon
tweets: Ed Balls reaches into hat. Roots around fruitlessly. Shakes hat out. Small brown heap thumps softly onto floor. Rabbit has died of boredom
Labour's 'first Budget'
Labour - under Ed Miliband's leadership - can deliver the change Britain needs, Ed Balls tells the party. As he draws to a conclusion, the shadow chancellor lists a series of measures the party would include in its first Budget, including an energy bills freeze, a jobs guarantee for all young people, a business rates cut, a British Investment Bank, an end to the "bedroom tax" and tax cuts "for millions - not millionaires".
Post update
Columnist and leader writer for @TheTimes, Tim Montgomerie
tweets: Lots of attacks on newspapers at #lab14. Mail and Sun are "rags" says Unite's Political Director.
Europe
Mr Balls sounds a warning about a potential UK exit from the European Union - with the Conservatives promising an in/out referendum in 2017 if it wins the next election - and declared that it would be a disaster for British jobs and investment.
Delegates watching Balls speech
Housing pledge
The shadow chancellor says at least 200,000 new homes will be built a year by 2020, under the party's plans.
Labour on airport expansion
Here's what Ed Balls has told Labour's conference: "Whatever the outcome of the Howard Davies review into airport capacity, we must resolve to finally make a decision on airport capacity in London and the South East - expanding capacity while taking into account the environmental impact. No more kicking into the long-grass, but taking the right decisions for Britain's long-term future."
Devolution to cities
On devolution, Mr Balls tells conference that Labour's economic plan would also devolve power and resources not just to Scotland and Wales but to city and county regions across England,
Scrap tax cut
On corporation tax, Mr Balls reiterates that Labour would scrap the government's planned corporation tax cut to fund a reduction in business rates for small firms.
Marriage tax break
Labour would scrap the government's marriage tax break and use the money to introduce a lower 10p starting rate of income tax, Mr Balls adds.
Post update
Political Editor, The Sunday Times, Tim Shipman
tweets: Balls' calls for fiscal prudence being met by total silence in the room
Jobs guarantee
Mr Balls says change is needed to the way the economy works citing the "hollowing out" of the labour market with "low-wage, insecure employment on the rise". He reiterates Labour's plan for a tax on bankers' bonuses to fund a "Compulsory Jobs Guarantee" for young people and the long-term unemployed.
Mansion tax
The central theme of Mr Balls' speech is that Labour would balance the books "in a fairer way". As well as the 50% top rate of income tax rate, there would also be a "mansion tax" on houses worth over £2m.
Winter fuel
The winter fuel allowance for the richest pensioners 5% will also be scrapped, Mr Balls tells the hall. The 50p tax rate for "the richest 1% of people" will be brought back, he adds.
Post update
Barry Smiggins, in Newbury, Berkshire
The child benefit payments do seem to be a bit of an anomaly. My wife an I earn almost 50k each but still get the full child benefit so we put it all into ISAs for the kids. They now have over 20K towards their educations costs. It's crazy that we should be able to do this.
Child benefit
On to the much-trailed child benefit policy announcement, Mr Balls says the party will cap the rise in child benefit at 1% for a further year, and use the projected £400m saving to help pay off the deficit.
Post update
Associate Editor at Pieria.co.uk, Frances Coppola
tweets: Balls giving a balanced budget commitment. Whoever said that left-wing parties don't do austerity?
Policing
Another pledge from Balls to scrap Police and Crime Commissioners "so that we can do more to protect frontline policing".
Ministerial pay
Mr Balls tells the Labour conference that Labour would cut the pay of government ministers by 5 per cent, and freeze pay until the nation's books have been balanced.
Free schools
Mr Balls goes on to attack the government's record and gets a big cheer after saying Labour will not fund new free schools in areas where there is no shortage of school places. He also promises to repeal legislation on the NHS, to stop the "increasing privatisation" of the NHS and to scrap the "bedroom tax" - the housing benefit changes the government calls the "spare room subsidy".
Post update
Guido Fawkes
tweets: So far @edballsmp has announced plans to deal with 0.67% of the deficit. Looking for another announcement on the remaining 99.33% later...
Balancing the books
Ed Balls: "Working people have had to balance their own books. And they are clear that the government needs to balance its books too. So Labour will balance the books in the next parliament. These will be our tough fiscal rules. We will get the current budget into surplus and the national debt falling as soon as possible in the next parliament."
Mistakes on banks
It was also a "mistake" that the banks were not regulated in a tougher way, Mr Balls continues, and adds: "We should apologise for it. And I do."
Mistakes on immigration
Mr Balls hails the party's record on the national minimum wage, free nursery places and the NHS - but he says there should have been tougher rules on immigration from eastern Europe. "It was a mistake not to have transitional controls in 2004. We must change the rules in the future," he says, proposing longer transitional controls for new countries and eligibility restrictions on benefits.
Post update
Liberal Democrats
tweet: Nick Clegg: We must deliver devolution that has been promised to Scotland. No ifs, no buts.
Post update
Politics Home
tweets: Balls praises Miliband for "modernising our relationship with the trade unions" and "standing up for the victims of phone-hacking" #Lab14
Honesty
Ed Balls says that while the Tories "are deeply unpopular" and the country is "crying out for change", there is still "more to do" to show Labour can deliver that change. This includes being honest about what the previous Labour administration got right, but also where it went wrong.
Post update
Political Editor of The Sun, Tom Newton Dunn
tweets: Ed Balls speech joke klaxon: "Perhaps today the less said about elbows, the better". #Lab14
Out of touch
Mr Balls heaps praise on Labour leader Ed Miliband who he says has led the party with "courage, strength, principle and vision and he will do the same for our country". He aims fire at David Cameron and George Osborne, accusing the Conservative Party of being "out of touch". Mr Balls claims Mr Cameron's party no longer believes in its leader.
Post update
Conservative MP David Gauke
tweets: Balls complains about public sector pay freeze - which he supports.
"Relying on Labour"
Mr Balls says families, pensioners, workers and NHS staff and patients are "relying" on Labour to make things better, and urges conference to "not let them down".
Post update
Huffington Post UK's political director, Mehdi Hasan
tweets: Last conference speech till the election. Surely @edballsmp has a rabbit in the hat beyond pre-briefed child benefit/ministerial pay stuff?
Reform not driven by politicians
The shadow chancellor acknowledges the need for UK-wide constitutional reform in wake of the referendum, but insists the process should start from the people, not politicians.
Post update
Labour MP Iain Wright
tweets: Media scrum for Ed Balls' speech at #Lab14 pic.twitter.com/TlHtIYokGo
Scotland campaigners
On the Scottish referendum - which continues to dominate the headlines - Ed Balls pays tribute to every Labour member involved in the campaign for a No vote. His comments are greeted by applause.
Ed Balls speaking
'Crying out for change'
Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, tells conference that while the economy is growing again most working people are "still not seeing any benefit" from the recovery. The country is crying out for change, he says, and adds that Labour offers a "better way forward": an economy for the many, not the few.
Post update
Mrs J Pike, Bath
Capping child benefit penalises stay-at-home-Mums, of which I am one. My child is 7 and I want to be able to spend time with her while she is young. I tried working (as a legal secretary) part-time, but was constantly exhausted (I am 50!) Child benefit is most valuable to me, especially when the money which my husband earns has run out at the end of the month. I certainly won't be voting Labour…ever!
Scotland
Mr Balls stresses that Scotland did not vote for the status quo, but for greater devolution, and stresses "it is our duty to deliver on that promise - and for Wales and for the cities and regions of England too".
Ed Balls
Ed Balls is on his feet at the Labour conference, he is introduced as the next chancellor.
Ed Balls on his way...
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls arrives at conference alongside shadow work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves. Mr Balls will be addressing delegates shortly.
Socialist change
Labour should "stand before the British people as the the party of peace, equality and socialist change", Len McCluskey declares as he concludes his rabble-rousing speech to a standing ovation.
"Posh boys"
Len McCluskey dismisses David Cameron's plans for a devolution settlement saying constitutional change should not be decided by "posh boys in Chequers" but by political debate with the people. He says working people throughout England and Wales "have also had enough" and want change - and says: "Let the Scottish referendum be the tombstone on 20 years of our party's indifference to the interests of the working class".
McCluskey in action
Post update
Westminster Correspondent for The Herald, Kate Devlin
tweets: Appearance of Robin Southwell, boss of Airbus, at Labour conference points to the scale of problem w business Cameron faces over EU ref
Working people matter
'Work in the contemporary economy' is the theme of the current debate - being led by Unite general secretary Len McCluskey. He says the lesson of the Scottish referendum was that "working people matter, their views, their voices and their votes". He says the working class and young people had been "electrified" by political engagement.
Inquiry into blacklisting
Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, sets out Labour's plans including an increase in the National Minimum Wage to £8, an end to zero hours contracts, investment in apprenticeships, reforms to employment tribunal fees and - to much applause - an inquiry into the blacklisting of construction workers.
Post update
Labour MP Stella Creasy
tweets: Now at #lab14 2 hear @ChukaUmunna set out how who you vote for does make a difference & why we are proud to be labour pic.twitter.com/mMv6uRKrEj
Child benefit criticism
Ed Balls's planned policy announcement on child benefit has received criticism before he has had a chance to set out his plans to conference. The charity, 4children, said the proposed extension of a cap on rises in child benefit "sends out a bad message" and is one which "families won't want to hear and won't welcome". Chief executive Anne Longfield said it disproportionally affects families on low incomes who are already struggling and who have "carried the burden of the economic crisis".
Poverty in Britain
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna is on his feet again. He tells conference that better paid and more secure jobs will be central to a future Labour government's agenda. If you work hard day in, day out you should not have to live in poverty in modern Britain, he adds.
English votes
In other news, shadow chancellor Ed Balls has said that if there was a vote in the Commons on English devolution, the Labour Party would not "vote for something that wouldn't work". It comes as Prime Minister David Cameron holds a summit with key Conservative figures to discuss his plans to limit the voting rights of Scottish MPs on English issues.
Europe cont...
The EU theme is continued by shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, who is now making a speech. He says an EU exit would be bad for businesses. Labour would seek to reform and continue the UK's membership of the EU, he explains, before giving the floor to Robin Southwell, president of Airbus Group UK.
Post update
FT's deputy political editor Beth Rigby
tweets: Southwell to Labour to speak up for EU membership: "I am not here to talk politics but I hope to inform politics" #lab14 #EU
Post update
Conservative MP Stewart Jackson
tweets: No matter what Ed Balls says to @UKLabour the voters aren't listening because the party has zero credibility in failing to acknowledge past
Europe
On to Europe, the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander accuses David Cameron of "burning bridges" in Europe to appease Conservative backbenchers and warns that a British exit from the EU would threaten the UK's economic prosperity. The Conservatives have pledged an in/out referendum in 2017 - allowing time for a renegotiation of Britain's terms of membership of the EU - if it wins the next general election.
Two-state solution
Douglas Alexander reiterates Labour's position of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stresses that blockades, rockets and occupations must end to allow "meaningful" negotiations to begin.
Post update
Henry Baker in Birmingham
Families should only receive payment for one child and not every child. This country is paying people to have more children? We should cap payments at one child.
Retreat: "foolish"
Setting out a future Labour government's foreign policy agenda, Douglas Alexander warns that it would be "foolish" for Britain to retreat from the world, and tells conference the party's approach would be "proudly multilateral".
Douglas Alexander
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander is on his feet, and begins his speech by welcoming Scotland's decision to remain a part of the United Kingdom.
Post update
Nick in London
As the parent of two young children of nursery age, the removal of child benefit has had an enormous impact on our household income, and of many others. Now more of the same from labour, passing the pain to lower income families. This is compounded by the high cost of pre school childcare. Where IS the support for hard pressed working families?
Defence review pledge
Vernon Coaker announces that a future Labour government would put the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) on a statutory basis, making it mandatory for the government to hold one in the lifetime of every parliament. The armed forces needs direction, he tells delegates, claiming this has been lacking under the current government. He adds that Labour is the party of the armed forces.
Labour defence
Over to Vernon Coaker - Labour's shadow defence secretary - now. He pays tribute to the armed forces and praises the role that Scotland plays in the security of the UK.
Post update
Guardian blogger Dean Burnett
tweets: Meanwhile, at Labour HQ: "How do we get people to vote for us?" "We could slash child benefit. Everyone hates kids, yeah?" "Sounds right"
Balls speech
Just a reminder that shadow chancellor Ed Balls will be delivering his keynote speech a little later. He's scheduled to address conference from noon, but this looks optimistic as things are already running about 15 minutes behind schedule.
Post update
Conservative MP Anne Marie Morris
tweets: Heard @edballsmp on @BBCr4today talking about dangers of 'creating 2 classes of MP' - we have that already! Scots MPs vote on Devon issues
Behind schedule...
Despite conference chair Keith Vaz's best efforts, conference is running a little behind schedule this morning. We were expecting a speech from shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander's at 10.50BST but there are still some matters to be covered before he can get to his feet.
Russia-Ukraine crisis
Hugh Bayley, president of the Nato parliamentary assembly, warns that Russia is rebuilding its empire, noting President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea earlier this year. We must ask why Russia now feels bold enough to invade neighbouring countries, the York Central MP tells conference. He surmises that it is, in part, because Nato countries are disarming and cutting defence spending while Putin rearms.
Post update
Telegraph Politics
blogs: Labour minimum wage: small businesses must be 'at heart of policy-making'
Post update
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw
tweets: Great English Labour session best of #Lab14 so far determination to address English ? & deliver real devolution to English cities & regions
Gaza
Conference is turning its attention to the situation in Gaza, beginning with a short speech from Ian Gasper, of the Torridge and West Devon Constituency Labour Party. He says the UK must show its support for the Palestinians.
Pat on the back
Foreign affairs
Conference is currently debating foreign affairs, defence and international development matters. Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, takes to the stage and focuses his remarks on human rights violations in Colombia. He condemns the "persecution of those who stand up for basic rights" and says Labour must be at the forefront of an international campaign against "the violence, murder and injustices" in the country.
Post update
Brian Wheeler
Political reporter
Stuart Holmes is back. This time last year the anti-nuclear protester was being assaulted by an angry publisher on Brighton seafront, while his "No-Nukes" dog nipped at his ankles. This year the dog is wearing a muzzle.
Post update
Executive editor (digital) @ArchantDigital, Matt Withers
tweets: Politicians challenging each other to the ice bucket challenge just three weeks after everybody stopped talking about it #culturalzeitgeist
'Change the world'
Mr Murphy, who can't have had such an easy pitch to sell for quite a while, concludes by telling conference that Labour should have the confidence that it can win "and change the world for the better all over again" - and receives a round of applause from delegates.
Universal healthcare
Mr Murphy, Labour's spokesman on international development, says more needs to be done to alleviate poverty, and pledges that his first act in government would be to put universal healthcare on the negotiating table at the United Nations.
ILO funding
Shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy says a future Labour government would reverse the coalition government's "damaging" decision to cut funding for the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).
Post update
Labour MP Pamela Nash
tweets: Hero of the hour @jimmurphymp addresses Conference about Labours past Int Dev achievements & our ambitious future plans pic.twitter.com/8WzDusQMFQ
Post update
Editor of Politics.co.uk, Ian Dunt
tweets: Labour conference feels tired and groggy. Less than a party preparing for government than one preparing for bed.
Two crates
It's over to shadow international development secretary Jim Murphy now - who Mr Vaz says campaigned in 100 open-air street meetings across Scotland during the referendum campaign. Mr Murphy tells the hall he's grateful to be standing on a stage bigger than "two Irn-Bru crates".
European campaign
Setting out Labour's plans on Europe, Ms Willmott says the party's MEPs will refocus the EU budget to deliver jobs and growth, reform the energy markets, and work to get rid of zero-hours contracts. She receives her biggest cheer for pledging that Labour will not support any EU-US trade deal "that endangers our NHS". Ms Willmott goes on to aim fire at the PM - whom she dubs "desperate Dave" - and claims he is putting party interests ahead of the national interest.
Fancy dress snaps
Brian Wheeler
Political reporter
Caroline Flint seems to like fancy dress. Here is the shadow environment secretary with Friends of the Earth campaigners who want schools to run on solar panels (not to open on Sunday, as one dozy conference-goer thought). Just seconds earlier she was posing with Ready Teddy - the plush mascot of a campaign to ban payday loan TV ads before the watershed.
A voice from Europe
Labour's leader in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott, has taken to the stage, and is praising Labour's performance at the recent European elections in May. She says the party's MEPs are "among the strongest" in the European Parliament - and welcomes that nearly half of them are women.
Welsh powers
The Welsh first minister stresses that the Wales Bill - which devolves some tax-varying powers to Cardiff and is currently going through Parliament - must be delivered, and that progress needs to be made on the Silk Commission's latest recommendations.
Viewpoint on minimum wage
Libertarian think tank The Adam Smith Institute
blogs: £8 minimum wage hype: political trick, economic disaster, moral outrage
The future of the UK
Carwyn Jones adds to criticism of Mr Cameron's UK-wide devolution plans following the Scottish referendum, branding the PM's response "panicky". He says the future promised to Scotland must be delivered - and also calls for a constitutional convention to address the future structure of the UK.
Post update
Politics Home
tweets: Kicking off the second day of #Lab14 conference, @OwenSmithMP says Cameron's 'effing Tories' comment was a "treasured moment of sincerity"
Post update
The Telegraph's Executive Editor (Politics), James Kirkup,
blogs: English Home Rule: Ed Balls accuses David Cameron of "English nationalism". Is that a bad thing?
Post update
Bob Roberts
The usual increases in the minimum wage from now to 2019 will reach 8 pound an hour in any event, so the poverty rates will continue. People need the increase now, not in six years time.
First minister
Owen Smith welcomes to the stage Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones - and in doing so nominates him for the infamous ice-bucket challenge to raise money for charity. There are two buckets back stage "full to the brim", he informs the hall.
English votes
The shadow Welsh secretary attacks David Cameron's plans to limit the voting rights of Scottish MPs as a "tawdry trick to buy off" Tory backbenchers - and restates Labour's proposal for a constitutional convention to discuss devolution plans.
Minimum chat
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith says Labour can deliver change, by rebuilding and rebalancing the economy, and making work pay by increasing the national minimum wage to £8 a hour - by Labour leader Ed Miliband yesterday. We're getting the feeling that's a pledge which is going to get a lot of mentions this week.
Owen Smith
Shadow Welsh secretary Owen Smith opens by declaring Labour as the party of Wales. Espousing the virtues of the United Kingdom, he welcomes Scotland's rejection of independence in last week's referendum. But he said the key message from Scotland was that Britain wants change - political, economic and no more "divisive, elitist, out-of-touch Tory government".
Welsh matters
The conference arrangements report has been agreed, and business now turns to the Welsh report - with shadow Wales Office secretary Owen Smith taking the stage.
Nitty-gritty
It's over to Conference Arrangements Committee chair Harry Donaldson now, to set out today's conference agenda.
Kick-off
And we're off. Labour MP and Home Affairs Committee chair Keith Vaz begins proceedings - and makes reference to Leicester City's 5-3 win over Manchester United at the weekend. Anyone who can get the score into their speeches will get an extra 30 seconds from the chair, he quips.
Business warning
Ahead of his speech this morning, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has had to defend Labour as a "pro-business party" after former Labour trade minister Digby Jones - now a crossbench peer - warned that the party has made a "persuasive case" it is not business-friendly.
Post update
Jodie Hope, Edinburgh
Really disappointed that this is how Labour have decided to cut the deficit, targeting the ones who cannot speak up for themselves. I agree with their move to cut the deficit instead of spending money we don't have - but I disagree this hit on future generations is the "fairest" way to do it! I had always been a Labour supporter too.
Post update
Rachel Clarke
tweets: Finally made it past the gauntlet of leafletters to enter Manchester Central for the Labour Party Conference.
Post update
Jamie MacLeod
tweets: Fantastic time at the Labour Party Conference. Brilliant getting insight into the plan for a victory in 2015.
Child benefit announcement
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will announce plans to extend by one year the coalition's 1% cap on rises in child benefit, if Labour wins the 2015 general election. The move - which would save about £400m over five years - is designed to prove Labour is serious about "balancing the books".
Post update
Colin, in Southend-on-Sea
I was hoping that the tax on Child Benefit would end or be done in a fairer way. We are a single income family with 4 children, and are being very heavily taxed as I earn over £50,000pa, whereas a family with two incomes earning up to £99,999pa between them does not pay any additional taxes unless one earns over £50,000.
Post update
Paul Noonan, in Essex
Child Benefit is becoming so complex now that any savings made by reducing the amount payable is dwarfed by the huge administration costs. Bearing in mind that CB is intended for the child why not scrap it completely and ensure that all school children are entitled to free dinners, uniform and public transport to and from school.
Post update
Elaine Hoctor, in London
We have seen a huge increase in child poverty under this coalition government. Child Benefit reaches both working and non working families and extending the cap on child benefit increases to 1% will affect them all. Many families are struggling and we urgently need change for the better not more of the same.
Chequers
David Cameron is today chairing a summit of senior Tory MPs to discuss plans to limit the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs (Labour is opposed to linking the two issues). Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier this morning, shadow chancellor Ed Balls accused the PM of playing "fast and loose" with the British constitution. He said there was no "easy quick solution" to the so-called West Lothian question - where Scottish MPs can vote on English issues - but repeatedly refused to say whether it is "unfair".
Post update
Ed Miliband
tweets: A Labour government I lead will cut government ministers' pay by 5% - and block any pay rises until the books are balanced.
Scottish referendum
While the issue of Scottish independence may have been settled at last week's referendum, the story continues to dominate the headlines. Party leaders' promises of more powers for Scotland has led to growing calls for new powers for English MPs and questions over whether pledges made in the heat of the campaign will be honoured.
Work, and Northern Ireland
Also on the agenda today is a two-part session on work and business by Labour's business spokesman, Chuka Umunna, and shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves. Conference delegates will also be addressed by shadow Northern Ireland Office secretary Ivan Lewis, later this afternoon.
Day ahead
Coming up before Ed Balls, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander will be speaking about Britain's global role, from 10:50BST. Might he address comments by former Prime Minister Tony Blair this morning that the UK should not rule out sending combat troops to fight Islamic State militants on the ground?
Welcome
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of Monday's events at the Labour Party conference. Topping today's bill is shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who will deliver his speech from about noon.