So the Labour Party's 2011 conference in Liverpool came to a close today following a successful week for the party and for the city.

But before red flags stopped waving there was an unexpected, unscheduled last minute addition.

Day four of the Labour Party's conference in Liverpool included a packed programme of events which may well have been the most important day so far.

It included a speech from Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever who, in his first ever party political conference, slammed the Tory-Lib Dem government for slashing police numbers which he said was a coalition which was "playing fast and loose" with public safety and nothing short of "madness".

Strong words which resulted in a standing ovation from delegates at the conference.

Day four of the Labour Party's conference in Liverpool included a packed programme of events which may well have been the most important day so far.

It included a speech from Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever who, in his first ever party political conference, slammed the Tory-Lib Dem government for slashing police numbers which he said was a coalition which was "playing fast and loose" with public safety and nothing short of "madness".

Strong words which resulted in a standing ovation from delegates at the conference.

So today was Ed Miliband's big day.

The day when he took to the stage to stake his claim on Number 10.

And did he? Well ... we'll see.

Ed Balls proved with no uncertainty today that he can pack a hall. And with a well crafted speech which tore into the Tories he proved he can also pack a punch.

The Shadow Chancellor took to the stage with one mission - to show that Labour is the party to save the country from hurtling over the precipice of a global economic crash. To regain the country's faith.

With barely a mention, the Lib Dems were left in Ed Balls' wake - nothing more than an irrelevance, a party riding on the coat-tails of their Conservative masters.