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Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his first party conference speech as prime minister to a packed hall of delegates in Liverpool. In a wide-ranging address that lasted over an hour, he covered policies new and old in his address, promising a “light at the end of the tunnel” for Britain.
Sir Keir was met with rapturous applause from delegates, as well as a lone protester near the end of his speech heard mentioning the “children of Gaza” before being escorted from the venue.
Responding to the heckler, Sir Keir said “this guy has a pass for the 2019 conference,” adding: “while he has been protesting we have been changing the party.
The prime minister also said that pensioners will be better off under Labour despite the controversial cut to winter fuel payments.
Acknowledging that some may find it hard to “take that on faith” due to the cold weather benefit cut, Sir Keir said: “if this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.”
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Tory leadership hopeful Jenrick brands PM’s speech ‘end of a term’
Former immigration secretary Robert Jenrick has compared the Sir Keir Starmer’s like the end of a term.
The Tory leadership hopeful also accused the prime minister of preparing a “dour plan for the UK”.
He said: “This was the speech of a prime minister at the end of his five-year term, not three months in. Sir Keir is already a busted flush – a Mr Grey, with a dour plan for the UK.
Behind all the rhetoric there was no substance. How can Starmer have no plan to grow the economy, reform the NHS or control and reduce immigration after 14 years? It appears he is too distracted with sleaze, infighting and chaos in Downing Street.”
Keir Starmer’s heckler says he spoke up for Gaza and Lebanon
Daniel Riley, 18, who heckled the prime minister in his speech at the Labour Party conference said he was moved to shout due Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Middle East.
He told reporters after being released by security: “Everyday we’re still sending British bombs and British bullets that are being used in Lebanon and in Gaza right now and the prime minister – he could stop that, he could stop that right now but he doesn’t.
“And he says that he wants things to stop but he won’t lift a finger to actually stop it.”
Asked if he had planned to disrupt the leader’s speech, Mr Riley said: “No, I was a delegate, I’m a Labour Party member, I hoped I’d be one for life but I suspect not now.”
Watch: Starmer sends blunt message to critics amid Labour gifts row
Lib Dems: Pensioners still disappointed Labour’s winter fuel allowance cuts
The Liberal Democrats have slammed the lack of a U-turn during Sir Keir Starmer’s speech over the winter fuel payment cuts.
Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Our country will only see the light at the end of the tunnel if the new government invests in health and care.
“Only by fixing the access crisis to GPs and dentists, building new hospitals and fixing social care, can we truly kickstart our economy and save public services. This must be the top priority for the Prime Minister.
“Sadly there will be millions of pensioners left disappointed today at the lack of a u-turn on the upcoming winter fuel allowance cuts. There is still time for the government to change course on this concerning policy and we urge them to do so.”
Starmer delivers shorter conference speech than Sunak
Sir Keir Starmer’s party conference speech lasted 54 minutes, slightly shorter than the 56-minute speech he delivered at Labour’s 2023 conference.
Compared with recent party conference speeches by newly-elected prime ministers, Sir Keir spoke for a shorter time than Rishi Sunak (an hour and four minutes in 2023) and Theresa May (58 minutes in 2016), but for longer than Liz Truss in 2022 (35 minutes), Boris Johnson in 2019 (40 minutes) and David Cameron in 2010 (52 minutes).
Shop workers union: Starmer hit the right note today
We have more reaction from Sir Keir Starmer’s speech, this time from the shop workers union boss, who has praised the PM.
Paddy Lillis, general secretary of the shop workers union Usdaw said: “Keir Starmer hit the right note today, setting out a positive agenda of change for the government and nothing illustrates that more than the bold plan for a revolution in training.
“Something Usdaw has long campaigned for as we face ever increasing use of artificial intelligence, automation and new technology in our workplaces.”
PM accused of skirting around Brexit in his conference speech
Responding to the prime minister’s speech at Labour conference Best for Britain claims Sir Keir Starmer dodged the Brexit topic.
Chief Executive Naomi Smith said: “The prime minister said change has begun but made no mention of the change Britain really needs – meaningful change to the Brexit deal which continues to stifle growth, drive up costs and deprive opportunities for businesses and young people.
“Keir Starmer can unlock Britain’s potential by working with our European partners to deliver beneficial regulatory alignment and a Youth Mobility Scheme.”
Watch: Starmer mistakenly calls for ‘return of the sausages’ in major Labour conference speech
You can watch Sir Keir Starmer’s embarrasing moment below:
Starmer mistakenly calls for ‘return of sausages’ in major Labour conference speech
Sir Keir Starmer mistakenly called for the “return of the sausages” in a major speech at Labour’s annual party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, 24 September. The prime minister was calling for restraint and de-escalation between Lebanon and Israel, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the return of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 as well as “a recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.” However, he accidentally said “sausages” before quickly correcting himself to say “hostages” instead.
Tories poke fun of Starmer’s ‘return of the sausages’ from Gaza during speech
With Sir Keir starmer’s speech now concluded, many are rushing to offer their rections.
The first ones to go are unsurprisingly the Conservatives, who have taken to social media to make fun of an embarrasing slip of the prime minister’s tongue.
ANALYSIS | Starmer has dipped into his family again to deliver his best speech
With Sir Keir Starmer’s speech now finished, we have some analysis from our political editor David Maddox who is at the Labour Party conference:
This ended up being a very personal speech by the prime minister as he attempted to sweep away the gloom and deliver a substantial vision for Britain’s future.
He has tried using his family – his father being a toolmaker – before but somehow the stories of returning to the cottage with his children where he holidayed as a child and the respect he wants his sister to receive for being a careworker landed much better this time.
The audience had struggled through his hairshirt section on needing to balance the books but noticeably warmed to him as he went into the last section.
Starmer has come over as caring and a man with a vision.
While this conference started very badly for him with in-fighting and questions on freebies it is finishing well before he jets to New York and the United Nations.
