Six things we learned from Keir Starmer's first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister

Keir Starmer has just delivered his first Labour Party Conference speech as Prime Minister.

Sir Keir delivered his hour-long address in Liverpool on the final full day of the party conference. The speech came a day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out returning to austerity — but questions remain on how ambitious the new government will be given the state of public finances.

While his overall message was there is ‘light at the end of this tunnel’, the PM, who swept to victory with a 174-seat majority in July’s general election, called on Brits to join a ‘shared struggle’ through short-term pain.

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However, that wasn’t the only thing we learned from the speech. Here are six things we noticed.

The long and winding road

‘Change has begun’ was the thrust of the Labour conference message — with the slogan branded across many, many advertising boards across the conference. It was also the thrust of Keir Starmer’s speech.

But the process of change will take time, the PM said, indicating to Liverpool a long and winding road is ahead. The ultimate goal is to ‘build a new Britain’, Sir Keir said. His government will be ‘prepared to use its powers for justice, opportunity, equal respect to build a Britain that belongs to you’, he went on.

However, the PM added: “I understand many decisions we must take will be unpopular. But the cost of fixing that [£22 billion public finance] black hole will be shared fairly.”

The Hillsborough Law will have teeth

The Hillsborough Law — which will impose a legally-binding ‘duty of candour’ on public servants and public authorities — has long been called for by politicians in Liverpool, plus Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. News it will be introduced by this Labour government was warmly welcomed when it leaked on Tuesday morning.

But supporters will be even happier to learn of how quickly it will be implemented — and it will have teeth.

Sir Keir said: “I can confirm that duty of candour will apply to public bodies. It will include criminal sanctions. And it will be introduced to Parliament before the next anniversary [of the Hillsborough disaster which killed 97 Liverpool FC fans] in April.”

‘Homes for heroes’

Party speeches are not usually the place where big policy is announced, and if it is, it’s usually trailed to newspapers beforehand. But Sir Keir made a trio of unexpected housing announcements.

The Prime Minister has announced veterans, young care leavers, and domestic abuse victims all now will be guaranteed ‘a roof over their head’ in hard times. He said: “This government will repay those who served us and re-house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes.

“We can make the very same promise to those at risk of homelessness — young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse. They will have a roof over their head because Britain belongs to them.”

The PM won’t back down on the winter fuel allowance row

One of the most controversial moves the new government has made is cutting eligibility of the winter fuel payment, so only pensioners receiving certain benefits can claim it. The move, made by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, was done to close what Labour calls a ‘£22bn black hole’ in public finances left by the last Conservative government.

It’s sparked a row. But the recent Downing Street arrival won’t back down.

“If you cannot take me on faith because of the winter fuel allowance, I get that,” he said.

“But the risk of showing to the world that this country does not fund its policies properly is a risk we can never take. If you bury your head while things are difficult, your country will go backwards.”

Manchester still has influence here

While Labour might be in the city which shares a rivalry with Manchester, it was clear the second city still has influence on the government.

Sir Keir gave special mention to Manchester Arena campaigner Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was one of the 22 killed in the 2017 attack. The Prime Minister named her as one person ‘who fights terrorism so no other families suffer that pain’.

That, he said, shows the way forward for the Labour government: “They have all shown the difference between true service and government is that service must listen to people from beyond the walls of the state.

“That’s the quickest way of clearing Tory rot and building that Britain that belongs to you.”