Referencing Jeremy Corbyn's leadership election strapline “straight talking, honest politics” – which is the same being used at the conference - he says it embodies what Mr Corbyn is about. "So in that spirit, he's some straight talking," he tells conference, and adds: 

John McDonnell takes to the stage, and begins with a quip that this won’t be his “usual rant” as he's promised his leader, Jeremy Corbyn, that he'll “behave myself”.

The prime minister's official spokesman has said David Cameron "is committed to free school meals in England."

He said the prime minister had made the point that "it was in the manifesto, the manifesto words are very clear. We're very proud of what we've done with free schools meals."

There had been speculation the policy - giving universal free school meals for the first three years at primary school - could face cuts under the Conservative government.

Brian Wheeler

Trade union sources have told me that they made sure there was no debate on scrapping Trident this week in Brighton, despite Jeremy Corbyn's promise of one.

They insist they want a debate on the future of Britain's nuclear weapons but not at conference because Mr Corbyn, who is in favour of disarmament, "would have lost" and that would have overshadowed his first conference as leader.

A lot of hard work went into ensuring the motion was not selected by members, I'm told.

Many unions are in favour of renewing Trident because scrapping it would cost jobs.

Image source, Reuters

A reminder that shadow chancellor John McDonnell will be addressing the Labour conference shortly. He should be on his feet at about 12:15 BST, in what'll be his first conference speech since being appointed to the role. Speaking to the media outlets this morning, he gave a flavour of what he wants to do, including a review of the Bank of England's mandate as part of proposals for a wide-ranging shake-up of the UK's economy if the party wins power. More here.

Unite union leader Len McCluskey uses his conference speech to attack the government's Trade Union Bill, which seeks to tighten the laws on strike ballots.

He urges ministers to allow secret strike ballots, and says that if they agree "then we can reach an agreement on turnout thresholds". If they don't the bill will be shown up to be a "cynical attempt to deny British workers the right to strike", he says, adding:

Chris Mason
Political Correspondent

A leading voice in the campaign to keep the UK in the European Union has admitted his opponents' supporters are more enthusiastic than those on his side of the argument.

Executive Director of The In Campaign Will Straw said that there was an "enthusiasm gap" in the EU debate at the moment.

And those committed to the UK leaving the EU were more likely to vote.

He was addressing a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton.

Read more from Chris here.

In her speech to conference earlier, Diane Abbott said war and conflict were a "primary impediment" to development, and pledged to vote against any attempt by the government to authorise UK participation in air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Jeremy Corbyn will be leader of the Labour Party at the next election said Alan Johnson, when asked if he could "survive" that long.

The former home secretary said the new leader "could perhaps be the servant of the party that I never was, that perhaps I should have been. Many people criticised me for that".

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

 "We are going to have a chat" with Mark Carney says Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell, as he criticised the Bank of England governor Mark Carney for missing inflation targets.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, an opponent of the expansion of Heathrow airport, says Labour would accept "dissent" on the issue.

In July, the Airports Commission recommended building a third runway at Heathrow, which would mean the demolition of parts of Mr McDonnell's Hayes and Harlington constituency.

Harriet Harman, acting Labour leader at the time of the report, backed the proposal as did London Labour MPs including Stephen Timms and Jim Fitzpatrick.

Mr McDonnell insisted that he could remain on the front bench even if the party continues to back a policy he opposes.

Image source, PA

Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle says the UK steel industry is "hanging by a thread" and the government has been "slow to react". In a message to ministers, she says: "You must act now with urgency to safeguard the future of steel making in the UK."

She raises the "criticial" situation at the Redcar steel plant in Teeside, which is to be mothballed, and urges the government to mitigate job losses. She also calls on party members to back an emergency resolution on the industry, which is to be debated later.