Keir Starmer is pledging to build a “Britain that belongs to you” and make tough decisions to reach “light at the end of this tunnel”, in his first speech to Labour party conference since becoming Prime Minister.
Starmer is addressing delegates and MPs for the annual leader’s speech at this year’s conference in Liverpool this afternoon.
He is setting out the government’s vision, saying that tough decisions taken in the short term are the first step on the journey of “national renewal” to a country that “once again serves the interests of working people”.
You can watch his speech live below – and refresh this page for live updates from the conference in Liverpool.
READ MORE: Tuesday at Labour conference 2024: LabourList events today not to miss
3.53pm: Reactions from think tanks
Harry Quilter-Pinner, IPPR’s interim executive director, said: “Keir Starmer today set out his vision for a decade of national renewal and what this could deliver for working people across the UK – higher wages, better health, safer streets, more opportunity and a greener future.
“The new government faces a tough inheritance after a decade of austerity and division. But it has made a promising start, including policies such as the green prosperity plan, the national wealth fund and devolving more power to places across the country – all of which IPPR has long argued for.”
3.52pm: Union responses
TUC’s General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “After 14 years of stagnation and decline under the Conservatives, workers and their families desperately need change.
“Keir Starmer showed today that he’s determined to deliver that change for communities across Britain and to make work pay for everyone.
“Unions stand ready to work with him and his government to urgently repair and rebuild this country.”
3.51pm: Labour grandees react
Baroness Hodge says: “It was a positive speech. It was full of hope and full of values – and the other thing that I really, really liked was it was the first time I heard a major politician for 20 years talk in that passionate and positive way about immigration. I thought that was really great.”
3.24pm: GB Energy reactions
In reaction to the speech, think tank Common Wealth posted on X: “Today Keir Starmer has confirmed GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen, helping to ensure a city at the centre of the oil and gas industry plays a critical role in the energy transition. This is welcome, but for it to pay off GB Energy will need maximum ambition and scale.”
Today Keir Starmer has confirmed GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen, helping to ensure a city at the centre of the oil and gas industry plays a critical role in the energy transition.
This is welcome, but for it to pay off GB Energy will need maximum ambition and scale.
— Common Wealth (@Cmmonwealth) September 24, 2024
3.04pm: Huge cheer as Starmer concludes speech
Starmer has finished his address to conference with a huge cheer from the auditorium. He is joined by his wife as he leaves the stage.
“People said we couldn’t change the party, but we did. People said we couldn’t win across Britain, but we did. People say we can’t deliver national renewal, but we can and we will.
“We can stabilise our economy, clear out the Tory rot, fix the foundations, and deliver the mandate of change. A Britain built to last. Built with respect, and built with pride. Because together, we have shown that Britain belongs to you.”
3.00pm: ‘Looks like he’s got a pass for the 2019 conference’
A protester has briefly heckled the Prime Minister, with him quipping: “Looks like he’s got a pass for the 2019 conference”.
2.58pm: ‘We must remember everyone’
“Everyone deserves the chance to be touched by art, access to moments that light up their lives and the chance to study the creative subjects that will broaden their horizons.”
2.55pm: ‘We will turn our collar up and face the storm’
The Prime Minister has said the country will rise above the challenges inherited by the Conservatives as the country “believes in justice and that wants working people to be respected”.
2.51pm: ‘Rebalancing the country to serve working people’
Starmer has said the country cannot afford more polluted rivers, more Covid contracts, more Grenfell Towers – “we have to become serious and mission-led”.
2.48pm: ‘We do not settle differences with violent thuggery’
Starmer has condemned the racism of the far-right riots over the summer and said: “The common understanding is that we debate our differences, we do not settle them with violent thuggery.”
“To those who say the only way to love your country is to hate your neighbour because they look different, I say we see you and we reject you.”
2.47pm: Starmer calls for return of, err.., sausages?
Keir Starmer calling for the return of the sausages??? pic.twitter.com/e9khnR97tf
— The Exploding Heads (@Exploding_Heads) September 24, 2024
2.44pm: Standing ovation while addressing riots
Starmer received a standing ovation after saying he will “never let a minority of violent, racist thugs terrorise our communities.”
2.43pm: ‘Law of properly funding policies cannot be ignored’
Starmer says: “I will not let Tory economic recklessness hold back the working people of this country.”
2.39pm: ‘No return to Tory austerity’
Although Starmer says many of the decisions he will take will be unpopular, he promises no return to Tory austerity and commits to rebuilding public services and protecting working people.
He also said that pensioners will be better off with Labour as he addresses the winter fuel allowance cut.
2.37pm: ‘This is a government of service’
Starmer said that he will not offer false hope, but that his government is one of service and will treat the public with the “respect of candour and not the destruction of bluster”.
“If we take tough long-term decisions now, that light at the end of this tunnel, we get there much more quickly>’
2.34pm: ‘Populism is the politics of easy answers’
Starmer is directing an attack on populism and said they put “party first, country second”.
In particular, he is critical of Rwanda and the cost it has had to the country.
“For 14 years the Tories performed the politics of easy answers rather than use the power of government to serve our country.”
2.32pm: Path will not be easy, Starmer says
Starmer is discussing the £22bn of unfunded spending commitments left by the Conservative government, as well as the “political black hole”.
There was a groan in the audience when Starmer said “we’re all in it together”.
2.29pm: ‘Homes will be there for heroes’
Starmer has said that the government will respect those who serve in the armed forces and house all veterans in housing need.
The Prime Minister has also made the same commitment to young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse.
“They will have the security they deserve. They will have a roof over their head. Because Britain belongs to them.”
2.27pm: Tribute to campaigners
Starmer has said his experience of speaking to campaigners that have inspired him, including the families and survivors of Grenfell Tower.
“They have all shown that the difference between service and government – true service is that service must listen to people far beyond the walls of the state.”
2.25pm: ‘A Britain that belongs to you’
Starmer said that his government has to prove what politics can do for people’s lives. “Restore, after 14 years of chaos, faith in the values that have always guided this nation.”
“We must build a new Britain. Built from that age-old spirit of creativity and enterprise. The pride and ambition of working people. A Britain that belongs to you.”
2.21pm: Starmer repeats calls for ceasefire
Starmer has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for restraint and de-escalation at the border between Israel and Lebanon.
He also repeated his “steadfast support for Ukraine”.
2.17pm: Standing ovation for nationalisation
Starmer has received a standing ovation while listing some of the achievements of the Labour government so far, including rail nationalisation.
“Change has begun,” he said.
2.15pm: ‘We won’t get everything right, but every decision we make we’ll take together’
Starmer said that the work of change has begun and, while the government won’t get everything right, every decision Labour makes “we will take together”.
Starmer says that bad faith advice for those who hanker for the days of politics of performance is “water of a duck’s back” – “mere glitter on a shirt”.
2.12pm: Hillsborough Law
Starmer has promised a Hillsborough Law, “for Liverpool, for the 97”, as well as other injustices suffered by working people by those who were supposed to serve them.
The law will be passed by the next anniversary of Hillsborough in April, Starmer confirms.
2.10pm: Starmer thanks Labour for election win
Starmer says that the conference is a far-cry from his audience of one when he first became Labour leader.
He has talked about the fight for the heart and soul of the party in Brighton in 2021. “We stood firm and we won”.
“Take pride in our victory, in how Labour won in every region in Wales, in how Labour won in Wales and Scotland, but this opportunity is only here because we changed the Labour Party.”
2.04pm: Starmer receives standing ovation as he takes to the podium
Keir Starmer has just walked onto the stage to huge applause from the auditorium, as he comes the first Labour Prime Minister to address the party’s conference since 2009.
1.56pm: PM set to take to the stage very soon
Keir Starmer is set to take to the stage of the Labour Party conference within minutes – you can watch live with the feed above.
While we wait, take a look at this piece from Stephen Beer and Patrick Diamond on what they think Starmer should say in his address.
1.50pm: Unite general secretary in auditorium
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, has taken her seat in the conference hall ahead of Keir Starmer’s speech.
Earlier today, she told LBC’s Nick Ferrari that she wants to see the Prime Minister announce there will be no “austerity mark 2” as well as unveil a programme for investment for jobs.
1.45pm: ‘Building a new Britain’
Keir Starmer will tell the country that the short-term pain of tough decisions means long-term gain will come much quicker, from higher living standards to lower waiting lists.
He will say: “I changed the Labour Party to restore it to the service of working people. And that is exactly what we will do for Britain. But I will not do it with easy answers. I will not do it with false hope.”
1.25pm: Starmer favourability drops
Prime Minister Starmer’s speech comes amid a new poll from Savanta, which shows the Labour leader’s net popularity has dropped by 28 points among the party’s own voters.
The poll’s findings suggest a slump in support since the election, from a +71 net favourability among Labour voters in early July, to +43 now.
1.15pm: Delegates and MPs beginning to fill the hall
People are starting to fill the hall ahead of Keir Starmer’s speech in less than an hour. Demand has been so great that it is understood that only 100 MPs are allowed to be in the auditorium for Starmer’s first address to conference as Prime Minister.
11.25am: PM to promise ‘light at end of this tunnel’
The Prime Minister will also talk about Labour’s positive vision for the country, with rising living standards in every community, an NHS facing the future, hospital waiting lists down and safer streets.
“The truth is that if we take tough long-term decisions now… then that light at the end of this tunnel, that Britain that belongs to you, we get there much more quickly,” Starmer will say.
He’ll also say: “Our project has not and never will change. I changed the Labour Party to restore it to the service of working people. And that is exactly what we will do for Britain. But I will not do it with easy answers. I will not do it with false hope.”
He will say the changes made to the party in opposition are “permanent”.
Starmer wants a “country that won’t expect you to change who you are, just to get on. A country that doesn’t just work for you and your family, but one that recognises you, sees you, and respects you as part of our story. A Britain that belongs to you.”
READ MORE: Starmer will say Labour must rebuild Britain but cannot do it “with easy answers”
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READ MORE: Today at Labour conference: Five key events on Tuesday in Liverpool
READ MORE: Conference 2024: Rachel Reeves pledges “a Budget to rebuild Britain” and condemns Tory waste
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