Jeremy Corbyn lashed out at the mainstream media for failing to understand "grown-up, real politics" in his first conference speech as Labour leader and called for a new, "kinder politics".
Corbyn wasted no time in mocking newspapers for the way they had reported on his leadership as he took to the stage in Brighton.
Instead he heralded the rise of "digital media" – but urged his supporters to "cut out the personal attacks, the cyberbullying, and especially the misogynistic abuse online".
Dressed in a brown jacket and red tie, Corbyn was given a series of standing ovations and cheers during an unconventional 59-minute speech that set out Labour's new style of politics.
"Some of the media commentators have sneered at our huge increase in membership," he said. "If these people were sports reporters writing about a football team, they'd be saying this: 'They've had a terrible summer. They've got 160,000 new fans, season tickets are sold out, the new supporters are young and optimistic, I don't know how this club is going to get through this crisis.'"
Corbyn also praised his deputy, Tom Watson, for leading the way on "much greater use of digital media as a key resource", and said: "That is the way of communication. It is not just through broadsheet newspapers or tabloids – it's social media that really is the point of communication in the future. We've got to get that."
Encouraging Labour members to help shape party policy, Corbyn said: "The media commentariat simply don't understand it. They report disagreements as splits, agreement as compromise, and concessions as capitulation. No – sorry, commentariat! This is grown-up, real politics where grown-up people debate real issues."
He told how he had read in the newspapers that he rides a "Chairman Mao-style bicycle" and that his "great-great-great-grandfather was involved in running a workhouse". And he praised his predecessor, Ed Miliband, "for the courage and dignity he showed in the face of tawdry media attacks".
Corbyn said people were "fizzing with ideas", adding: "Let's give them the space for that fizz to explode into the joy we want of a better society."
The MP for Islington North said the surge in Labour membership was a "tremendous opportunity" for the party and would "mean a lot of change for the way we've done our politics in the past".
He said he did "not believe in personal abuse of any sort", adding: "Treat people with respect. Treat people as you wish to be treated yourself. Listen to their views, agree or disagree, but have that debate. There is going to be no rudeness from me.
"I want a kinder politics, a more caring society. Don't let them reduce you to believing in anything less. So I say to all activists, whether Labour or not, cut out the personal attacks – the cyberbullying and especially the misogynistic abuse online."
That comment drew a lengthy standing ovation from the packed hall. It came after a long leadership contest in which some MPs were labelled "red Tories" for failing to back Corbyn.
Corbyn usually relies on a few notes scrawled on a notepad for his speeches – but this time used an Autocue to make sure he got it right. He occasionally stumbled over his lines and at one point appeared to read out an instruction at one stage when he said: "Strong message here."
But he enjoyed a warm reception from Labour activists – many of whom queued for over two hours to hear him – and received a long standing ovation when he exited the stage to soul classic "Working on a Building of Love" by Chairmen of the Board.
Labour MEP Richard Howett told BuzzFeed News: "The most important part in the speech is an attempt to generate new politics, to call for more caring, respectful politics that has clearly attracted people."
David Wilbraham, a 59-year-old civil engineer, described himself as a Blairite but said he "would be happy with Jeremy for five years". He said: "There's an element of going back to the core issues, trying to build a better society, rather than just trying to win an election."
But the reaction in the hall wasn't all positive. Olivia Barber, a 21-year-old Cambridge university student, said he didn't address domestic issues enough. She said he seemed to be "speaking to who agreed with him rather than the wider electorate".
I felt I was on a date with Jeremy. Reminded us why we are Labour and was the 1st leader to use the words black&asian in a leaders speech.
Corbyn covered a wide range of issues in his speech, including the housing crisis, which he vowed to start solving with a "new council-house-building programme". He also pledged to renationalise the railways, earning loud applause by declaring: "Labour's policy now is to deliver the fully integrated, publicly owned railway the British people want and need."
He called on David Cameron to help steel workers facing job losses on Teesside, just as the Italian government had done with its industry, saying: "Why can't the British government? What is wrong with them?"
And he vowed to help "end the stigma, end the discrimination" of people with mental health issues – accusing the Tories of "vandalising the NHS" and "cutting junior doctors' pay".
Corbyn also attacked the Conservatives for claiming that he was a threat to people's security: "How dare these people talk about security for families and people in Britain? There's no security for the 2.8 million households in Britain forced into problem debt by stagnating wages and the Tory record of the longest fall in living standards since records began."
But these words seemingly had no effect on Tory HQ. In a statement released after the speech, justice secretary Michael Gove said: "Labour have confirmed that they are a threat to our national security, our economic security and to the security of every family in Britain."
