Five things we’ve learned from the Labour party conference | Matthew d’Ancona, Tom Clark, Polly Toynbee, Martin Kettle and Aditya Chakrabortty

As Jeremy Corbyn’s first conference as leader unfolds, ideas such as electoral reform and political personalities are on the table – and compulsory veganism is off

“This lot aren’t full of fear. That’s the real difference”: thus muses one of the most intelligent veterans of Labour’s battles since 2010. The observation is both simple and acute. New Labour always claimed to be brave, radical, “best when at our boldest” (Tony Blair, Labour conference, Blackpool 2002). Gordon Brown wrote a (rather good) book called, simply, Courage. Yet the modernisation project was essentially the product of fear: fear of defeat was its core motive, just as soothing the fear of the voters was its primary objective. In 1997, the late Philip Gould’s mantra was: “Reassurance, reassurance, reassurance.” Of course, Corbyn and John McDonnell have sought to dispel some aspects of their tabloid image and to soothe the anxieties of middle Britain. But the deeper impression left by the new leader’s nonchalant style and the shadow chancellor’s confidence is of a party no longer apologising for its instincts, its history and its idealistic plans, no longer playing by the old rules. Remember the Democrat super-strategist, Bruno Gianelli, in The West Wing? “I’m tired of working for candidates who make me think that I should be embarrassed to believe what I believe, Sam! … We cowered in the corner, and said, ‘Please. Don’t. Hurt. Me.’ No more.”

Related: Six things we’ve learned from the Labour party conference | Jonathan Freedland, Tom Clark, Rafael Behr, Matthew d’Ancona, Martin Kettle and Gaby Hinsliff

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