Labour’s Angela Rayner has recommitted to plans to make further education free as part of its proposed National Education Service.

The shadow education secretary was speaking at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool. Ms Rayner said: “I know from my own life that sometimes people need a second chance later in life. So we’ll provide not just free higher education but free further education.

“And we’ll ask experts from across the field to join our lifelong learning commission, led by our shadow minister Gordon Marsden. Because we’re not afraid to hear from experts. In fact, we welcome it.”

She added: “Our National Education Service isn’t just about educating. It’s about empowering. Allowing people to take control over their own lives.”

Labour set out their plans for further education in the 2017 general election manifesto, including plans to introduce “free, lifelong education in colleges, enabling everyone to upskill or retrain at any point in life”.