MANCHESTER – The mayor of New York delivered a speech at the Labour conference that was better received than party leader Ed Miliband's own speech. It's just a shame so few people were there to see it.
Bill de Blasio arrived in the UK at 7am this morning to speak at the conference in Manchester, and is expected to fly back to New York this evening.
Miliband has previously told BuzzFeed News that he sees himself as part of a new group of global left that also includes de Blasio.
In his speech, the New York mayor declared that the Labour party would win next year's general election and praised the Labour party's "progressive" values.
It is an annual tradition for the party to invite an international speaker to its conference, and de Blasio joins that includes the likes of Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.
But his speech was sullied by the fact that the conference hall was less than half-full, as staff desperately attempted to move people towards the front of the room.
One member of staff ushered BuzzFeed News and another journalist to the front row to sit alongside MPs, saying: "Can you move to the front row, please? The New York mayor has flown halfway across the world and we want it to seem full."
Introducing de Blasio, MIliband said: "He's someone who's put inequality on the agenda in one of the most important cities in the world. ... And he must be heard."
De Blasio's strong speech will encourage the Labour party as it looks to build support and campaign around the country.
"Ed, your agenda is a blueprint for what a more generous, prosperous, and fairer United Kingdom will look like," de Blasio said. "And that is not why you must win; it is why you will win."
Miliband often nodded his head to de Blasio's remarks. The men are believed to have similar political values, with income inequality a focal point for both.
In addition to praising Labour's policies, the mayor criticised the Conservatives for ignoring inequality. The latter particularly pleased the crowd.
He said: "[The cost of living crisis] does not refer to the outrageously high prices for a Bentley or a penthouse flat or a five-star hotel. The people who can afford those are living quite comfortably under this Conservative government."
De Blasio also expressed his support for Miliband's keynote address to the conference on Tuesday. He said: "You heard yesterday what a progressive vision is and that's what we have to demand of our leaders. To give us something we can see and touch and believe in. Let's thank him for his leadership."
Labour MP Austin Mitchell, however, said the speech was "out of place" at the Labour conference. He tweeted: "Shocking!!! Bill DeBlasio rudely reminds Labour that politics is about class war. Brilliant speech but totally out of place for Labour!"
Some delegates expressed surprise at de Blasio's inclusion in the conference, with many unaware of his policies. Labour councillor Abdul Jabbar in Oldham told BuzzFeed News before the speech he didn't know de Blasio was speaking and would be leaving the conference early "to go back to work".
Another delegate, 61-year-old Eileen Flanagan, said that de Blasio was invited because he's a Democrat, although she admitted she wasn't aware exactly what he could bring. She said: "I'm sure there is something he can bring to us, but I'm not sure what."