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Starmer conference speech: The highlights and how it went down

Morgan Jones

Starmer’s speech – and his handling of protestor – garners positive reviews:

LabourList has Stephen Kinnock’s reaction in a video here: he reckons it was “Barnstorming”:

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said:

“It will be a relief to all working people that we are on the brink of kicking the Tories out of power.

“We need bold policies that offer real solutions – proper investment in our public services, repeal of the anti-union laws and a socialist green new deal.

“Public ownership of rail and energy – which passed on conference floor this week – is overwhelmingly popular with the electorate.

“Labour must be the party of workers, not corporate interests.”

Labour also issued press release on warm response from five major developers. 

Simon Carter, CEO of British Land, also said: “British Land welcomes Labour’s commitment to speeding up the planning system, intensifying brownfield development and rejuvenating our great towns and cities.

“Practical, deliverable planning reform is key to incentivising investment, driving productivity and returning the country to long-term sustainable growth, while ensuring that it remains internationally competitive.”

Stephen Morgan MP thinks it was “fantastic”:

Ellie Reeves MP thinks it was “incredible”:

Commentator Aaron Bastani praises Starmer’s composure:

The campaign group Priced Out praises commitments on housing:

Sebastian Salek, a Waltham Forest councillor, said it was really exciting to see Labour “cement itself as the party of housebuilding” by committing to build on poorly used land to create 1.5 million homes.

One Labour councillor tells LabourList: “The thought of Starmer’s predecessor using their conference speech to condemn Hamas, reiterate Labour’s support for a two-state solution, and get a standing ovation is completely inconceivable. The fact that Starmer was able to do that today underscores what an incredible job he’s done of transforming our party in just a few short years.”

Our liveblog

15:00: “Why Labour? Because we serve your interests”

Starmer’s talk turns to winning back Scotland, condemning an SNP that views nationalism as a “bridge to the world… when it can barely provide a ferry out of the outer Hebrides”.

He says Tories are always ready to “save their own skins”.

“I grew up working class. I’ve been fighting all my life and I won’t stop now.”

“We will face down the age of insecurity together… break the stranglehold of Tory decline… walk towards a decade of national renewal”

“Britain must, Britain can, Britain will get its future back. Thank you conference.”

14:55: Green transition and skills

“Today we commit to a new generation of colleges, technical excellent colleges”, planted firmly in “young people’s aspiration”.

“Clean British energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. That means cheaper bills for every family in the country.”

When Rishi Sunak says, row back on our climate mission, “I say, speed ahead”

Great British Energy will be based in Scotland: “Scotland is at the heart of a Britain built to last”.

Starmer shouts out to Michael Shanks, “who will serve his community with dignity, pride and determination”

14: 50: “We say yes to sound money… fiscal responsibility is non-negotiable”

Starmer reaches out to Tories worried about their party descending into the “murky waters of extremism and conspiracy”, saying that they can join a Labour Party committed to improving Britain.

“Hold out the hand” to business and commit to competitive enterprise, while simultaneously championing workers’ rights.

Starmer says “business is ready to join us in this endeavour”.

14:45: Economic growth

Building does not mean “tearing up our green belt”, but sometimes there are “ridiculous uses of it”- “carparks”; “wastelands”- “a grey belt”.

“Getting Britain building again is crucial to growth…this Labour Party will fight the next election on economic growth”.

He condemns “trickle down nonsense” and Tory economics. “This is the Tory mindset. Don’t solve problems. Exploit them.”

“Those ideas are finished… in the end they always make working people pay.”

14:42: “It’s time to get Britain building again”

Starmer talks about the planning system as a “blockage” in the path of infrastructure and home ownership.

He says his house growing up was “everything” to his family, providing stability and a springboard.

“Today we launch a new plan to get Britain building again” and “fight the blockers” who stand in the way of aspiration.

“No more inertia in the face of resistance” from people who say “we don’t want Britain’s future here”.

“It’s time to build 1.5mn homes across the country”.

14:40: “That’s our future conference: let’s get it back”

Envisions a future where “ambulances come on time” and “MPs have only one job: service”.

Imagine “no more bonuses for those pumping sewage into our waterways”; no more “cleaners mocked as they scrub mess off the walls after illegal parties in Westminster”.

Where workers’ rights are considered good for growth.

14:35: Sunak is out of touch

Starmer attacks the Tory Party as out of touch: “Rishi Sunak and the shallow men and women of Westminster- unable to see, unable to listen, unable to stand in your shoes”.

Starmer talks about his sister, a care worker, and her experiences in the pandemic.  Talks about the country’s respect for NHS staff and care workers during the pandemic, saying: “I believe this country respects itself.”

14:32: Starmer draws on experience as director of public prosecutions

“I’ve reformed a public service before, I know how it goes”, he says before talking about reform of policing to make streets safer.

“If we ignore the appeals to the status quo on private school tax breaks” we can improve mental health provision and “shatter the class ceiling”.

14:30: NHS reform

Tells the crowd we have “got to get the NHS back on its feet” to applause from the hall. He explains Labour’s plans for closing the non-dom tax loop to increase NHS funding.

“If all we do is place the NHS on a pedestal, then I am afraid it will remain on life support”; we need to reform the NHS he says.

14:26

“There’s no magic wand here” to fix the cost of living crisis. “A decade of national renewal” is what’s needed.

Bravery is what’s needed, says Starmer. “We can get our future back”


14:24

Cost of living crisis whittles away at our joy, Starmer says. “We have to be a government that takes care of the big decisions, so that working people have the opportunity to enjoy what they love”

14:21 

People are looking to us because we want to heal, “and we are the healers…. the modernisers… the builders”.

Politics should “tread lightly on people’s lives”… “carry the load, not add to it”.

14: 19

Climate change is a “recipe for instability” says Starmer as he discusses our “new age of insecurity”.

14:09

Starmer thanks Penistone and Stocksbridge PPC Marie Tidball, who introduced him.

He is talking now about his fight to change the Labour party: “Country first, party second”.

He condemns “the terrorists of Hamas” and the recent killings in Israel. “Israel must always have the right to defend her people”.

 

Labour leader Keir Starmer will be delivering his speech to party conference in Liverpool this afternoon. It will be Starmer’s third address to party conference as leader and is likely to be his last before the next general election. We know a bit about what the Labour leader is likely to say, but you can follow along here for a live blog of the speech and reactions.

Here’s Starmer and his wife getting ready this morning with a lovely croissant:

You can watch along live here:

14:05

Starmer is walking out after a short video.

A protestor has dumped- I think glitter? On Keir Starmer. He has shed his jacket and started again: “If he thinks that bothers me he doesn’t know me…. protest or power, that’s why we change our party conference”.

 

Tags: Keir Starmer / Leader's Speech / Labour conference 2023 /
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