Extracts from Starmer’s speech released in advance
Here are some extracts from the speech released in advance.
On what Labour has done so far
A Government of Service must act in everything it does to show – to the working people of this country, that politics can be a force for good, that it can be on the side of truth and justice, and that it can secure a better life for your family through the steady but uncompromising work of service.
Make no mistake, the work of change has begun. Planning – reformed. Doctors – back in theatre. New solar projects. New offshore wind projects. The onshore ban – lifted. Great British Energy – launched. One-word Ofsted judgements – ended. MPs second jobs – banned. A Border Security Command. A National Wealth Fund – getting Britain Building Again. The Renters Reform Bill – stopping no fault evictions. The Railway Services Bill – bringing our railways back into public ownership.
And we’re only just getting started.
On national renewal
The politics of national renewal are collective. They involve a shared struggle. A project that says, to everyone, this will be tough in the short-term, but in the long-term – it’s the right thing to do for our country. And we all benefit from that.
On light at the end of the tunnel
The truth is that if we take tough long-term decisions now, if we stick to the driving purpose behind everything we do: higher economic growth – so living standards rise in every community; our NHS facing the future – waiting lists at your hospital down; safer streets in your community; stronger borders; more opportunities for your children; clean British energy powering your home; making our country more secure … then that light at the end of this tunnel, that Britain that belongs to you, we get there much more quickly.
On no easy answers
I know this country is exhausted by and with politics. I know that the cost-of-living crisis drew a veil over the joy and wonder in our lives and that people want respite and relief, and may even have voted Labour for that reason. 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.
On the £22bn black hole left by the Tories
It will be hard. That’s not rhetoric, it’s reality. It’s not just that financial black hole, the £22bn of unfunded spending commitments, concealed from our country by the Tories, it’s not just the societal black hole – our decimated public services leaving communities held together by little more than good will – it’s also the political black hole.
Just because we all want low taxes and good public services, does not mean that the iron law of properly funding policies can be ignored. We have the seen the damage that does, and I will not let that happen again. I will not let Tory economic recklessness hold back the working people of this country.
On being a reforming government
We have to become serious and mission-led, and have to put respect and service deep in the bones of our institutions. That’s not a debate about investment or reform, it’s always been both.
But again, I have to warn you, working people do want more decisive government. They do want us to rebuild our public services and they do want that to lead to more control in their lives. But their pockets are not deep – not at all. So we have to be a great reforming government.
On giving equal voice to everyone
As a country, we elevate the stories of the individuals who go to the Guildhall School of Music, the prime minister from a pebble-dashed semi, the working class few who do break through the class ceiling.
It’s important to tell those stories. But it’s not everyone, is it? And we must remember everyone.
Through the power unleashed by renewal, we can build a country that gives equal voice to every person. 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.
Key events
-
Starmer says net immigration too high, and government will ‘get tough’ on this
-
Starmer says talking illegal migration must mean some people being granted asylum
-
Starmer says drive for green energy will mean more pylons erected
-
Starmer confirms Labour will legislate to tackle benefit fraud
-
Starmer accepts concerns about winter fuel payments, but says ‘every pensioner will be better off with Labour’
-
Starmer seeks to explain what benefits lie ahead if government takes difficult decisions now
-
Starmer says young care leavers and domestic abuse victims also to be protected from homelessness
-
Starmer says government will ensure housing for all veterans in housing need
-
Starmer says he won’t ‘get everything right’, but he won’t let ‘fantasy of populism’ distract him from politics of service
-
Extracts from Starmer’s speech released in advance
-
Starmer to address Labour conference
-
Labour must stay focused on what voters want, not what members want, says McFadden
-
Prisons minister James Timpson says courts should put more faith in community orders as alternative to jail
-
Lisa Nandy accuses Tories of ‘cultural vandalism’, and says Labour will reverse it
-
Protesters spray ‘genocide’ at entrance to conference in protest at Labour government arming Israel
-
Cooper announces measures to tackle antisocial behaviour and street crime
-
Yvette Cooper says Tory leadership candidates, and Reform UK, harming respect for law and order with two-tier policing talk
-
McFadden knocks down story saying government considering tightening pub opening hours
-
People don’t know what Labour’s five missions are, says Alastair Campbell, as he argues its communications must improve
-
McFadden does not rule out welfare cuts in budget
-
Starmer will tell conference ‘good times on the horizon’, says Pat McFadden
-
Starmer to deliver Labour conference speech with left alarmed by plan for crackdown on benefit fraud
Starmer says net immigration too high, and government will ‘get tough’ on this
Starmer says he accepts the immigration is too high.
I have always accepted that concerns about immigration are legitimate.
It is – as point of fact – he policy of this government to reduce both net migration and economic dependency upon it.
I have never thought we should be relaxed about some sectors importing labor when there are millions of young people, anxious and highly talented who are desperate to work and contribute to their community.
And trust me, there are plenty of examples of apprenticeship starts going down at the very same time that visa application for the same skills are going up.
So we will get tough on this.
Starmer says talking illegal migration must mean some people being granted asylum
Starmer says Labour also wants to see more homes built, and that dealing with asylum claims will mean accepting that some people have to have their asylum claims granted.
If we want home ownership to be a credible aspiration for our children, then every community has a duty to contribute to that purpose.
If we want to tackle illegal migration seriously, we can’t pretend that there’s a magical process that allows you to return people here unlawfully without accepting that process will also grant some people asylum.
Starmer says drive for green energy will mean more pylons erected
And Starmer says the Labour wants to see more pylons erected.
If we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons overground. Otherwise, the burden on taxpayers is too much.
Starmer confirms Labour will legislate to tackle benefit fraud
Starmer confirms the government will legislate to tackle benefit fraud.
If we want to maintain support for the welfare state, then we will legislate to stop the benefit fraud. Do everything we can to tackle worklessness.
Starmer accepts concerns about winter fuel payments, but says ‘every pensioner will be better off with Labour’
Starmer says he understands why people are unhappy about the winter fuel payments cut.
But he says, with prices kept low, NHS waiting lists cut and the triple lock secured, “every pensioner will be better off with Labour”.
Starmer seeks to explain what benefits lie ahead if government takes difficult decisions now
Starmer says people ask what they will get from the difficult decisions that lie ahead.
He claims he will answer that directly.
I know that the cost of living crisis drew a veil over the joy and wonder in our lives, and that people want respite and relief. They may even have voted Labour for that reason.
So first, let me be clear.
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. Not now, not ever. That’s how we got here in the first place …
And the truth is that, if we take tough, long term decisions now, if we stick to the driving purpose behind everything we do – higher economic growth so living standards rise in every community; our NHS facing the future, waiting lists at your hospital down; safer streets in your community, stronger borders, more opportunities for your children, clean British energy, powering your home – than that light at the end of this tunnel, that Britain belongs to you, we get there much more quickly.
Starmer accuses the last Tory government of refusing to fix the problems facing the country.
As a result, people do not trust politicians.
You may call it populism. Many people do, but I prefer to call it the politics of easy answers, because at its core, that’s what it is, a deliberate refusal to countenance tough decisions because the political pain is just too much.
As an example, he cites the Rwanda policy.
Starmer says young care leavers and domestic abuse victims also to be protected from homelessness
Starmer says the government is making the same promise to other people at risk of homelessness: young care leavers, victims of domestic abuse.
They will have the security they deserve.
They will have a roof over their heads.
Starmer is talking about his missions.
He understands “the power and responsibility of government”, he says – “the way it can make or break a life”.
As chief prosecutor, looking into the eyes of victims, “trust me, you learn what government can and must do”.
He refers to crime victims, and the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
They have all shown that the difference between service and government – true service is service that listens to people, he says.
Starmer says government will ensure housing for all veterans in housing need
Starmer turns to another injustice. He says the government will house all veterans in housing need.
Starmer pivots to the Middle East.
He says Labour is calling for restraint and de-escalation, a ceasefire in Gaza, a secure Israel and a two-state solution.
He says Labour must show what politics can achieve.
Above all, they must have faith “in practical solutions that work”.
Easy answers “may well move a crowd, but do not move a nation forward”.
Starmer lists some of what the government has achieved.
And he promises “a Britain that belongs to you”.
Change must mean “nothing less than nothing renewal, not a return to the old days, nor a new path entirely, but a rediscovery in the full glare of the future of who we are”.
No one doubts that the UK is a great nation, he says.
A nation known for our creativity and our artistic skill, our scientific genius and, of course, our pragmatism – qualities that combined with the industry and pride of working people have not just rewritten our own story, but that of the world.
We could do that again.
