Mr McKeever was swiftly followed by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper who reiterated the dangers of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat's 20% cuts to police: "Tories in government do not cut crime. In the end, they just don't believe in the things you need to do, they don't believe in active government, they don't believe in strengthening society."

And she called on David Cameron to ditch expensive plans to introduce elected police chiefs: "Next year, in Olympic year, the government will spend over £100m electing politicians on £120,000 a year to become crime chiefs. Yet they are cutting thousands and thousands of police. But this is the year when the eyes of the world are upon us. Our great Olympic opportunity. But we cannot have a repeat of this summer's shameful violence and disorder. So the Government should rethink. They should stop the plans for over 40 crime chiefs. Use that cash this year to put in place strong action on gangs as Boston, Hackney and Lambeth are doing. Use that cash to stop 2,000 Police Constables being cut in Olympic year."

She highlighted Labour's success in government in tackling crime: "Crime fell by 40%. Seven million fewer crimes a year. The first government since records began where crime went down and not up. That's Labour's record and we should be proud of it."

And she hit out at the Tories' record on law and order: "The Tories claim to be the party of law and order. But look at the facts. Every Tory government since records began has seen crime go up not down. Tories in government don't cut crime. The Tories are hoping David Cameron is moving to the right on law and order. He isn't moving right, he's just getting it wrong."

It was a speech which was received approvingly by the hall, many of whom see Yvette Cooper as a potential future leader of the party.

But Yvette isn't the only on with ambitions and Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham proved he has what it takes when he took to the stage to label Michael Gove as the "dream stealer" and David Cameron a "conman": "Before the election, David Cameron looked young people in the eye and said he'd keep the Education Maintenance Allowance. He broke that promise. What kind of man does that, leaving thousands of young souls cut adrift? Cameron the conman, that's who. What kind of man destroys England's career service with youth unemployment at record levels? And what kind of man chooses this moment of all moments to make young people pay with life chances."

The Shadow Education Secretary unveiled Labour's plan to introduce a UCAS style apprenticeship system to give people who didn't want to go to university alternative opportunities for training, while also stating the party would transform Michael Gove's English baccalaureate with a "modern baccalaureate" which will give young people of all backgrounds better life chances.

He hit out at Michael Gove as being stuck in the past and out of touch: "Here we are in Britain 2011 and we have the spectacle of a Tory Education Secretary promoting Latin and Ancient Greek over engineering, ICT and business studies."

"There is a growing grass roots rejection of Mr Gove and his elitist and divisive policies. He is stuck in the past. He throws money at his favoured schools - free schools and academies - and treats the rest as if they don't matter. A man with a plan for some schools and some children, not all schools and all children."

He went on to say his priorities included giving all young people the chance to be ambitious: "Aspiration, aspiration, aspiration".

And as you would expect from a home crowd, the reception was rapturous as delegates took to their feet.

The day ended with what must have been the most nerve-wracking session of the whole conference for organisers as for the first time for any political party, regular members of the public were invited into the hall for a question and answer session with Ed Miliband.

No stage management here and the very clear and present danger for things to go off track and off message as a shirt-sleeved Ed fielded questions from a cross section of the British public.

And although the worst fears of Labour Party officials looked to be realised as one man from Oxford asked a question about pensions but didn't like the answer during which he promptly stormed out only to be seen seconds later in the BBC conference studio, the event proved to be a success.

Ed fielded the questions well and most importantly he came across as a human being, not the 'Red Ed' the right wing portray and not the safe middle of the road Ed the party all too often portrays.

Yvette and Andy's ambitions may have to wait a while.

Kevin Matthews works for Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson follow him on Twitter HERE.