'It's been really, really quick and it's been quite tough... We needed that'

Keir Starmer has 'energised' the Labour Party after a 'tough' few months, some of his MPs have said after his first party conference speech as Prime Minister.

The hour-long speech saw Sir Keir reel off a list of what his government has already achieved since July's general election, insisting that 'change has begun'. He defended the 'tough' decisions taken so far - including cuts to the winter fuel allowances - but promised there is 'light at the end of the tunnel', despite a 'difficult road ahead'.

The keynote speech on Tuesday (September 24) also included announcements on housing, apprenticeships and the Hillsborough Law. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who has campaigned for the law, which will impose a legally-binding ‘duty of candour’ on public servants and public authorities, described this as an 'emotional moment'.

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

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the speech, the Labour mayor said: "[It was] a serious uplifting speech from a serious Prime Minister. I would say the first serious Prime Minister we've had since Theresa May probably. And then Gordon Brown before that. I thought it was a really good speech.

"For us, those of us who've worked on Hillsborough Law campaign that we launched at the People's History Museum in the city centre a couple of years ago, [it was] quite an emotional moment actually. The fight for justice.

"People across the North West and in Greater Manchester supported, led through this city, but everyone supported, is going to change this country permanently which is a big moment actually. A very, very big moment."

Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell, who is the House of Commons leader, described the speech - in which Sir Keir shared stories about his youth - as 'very personal'. She dismissed claims that the Labour government has been all 'doom and gloom' so far, saying the party's first conference in power has been 'a chance to get some perspective'.

She said: "Look, it's serious times, there's serious problems facing us. Public services are broken, people's living standards are through the floor, we've got problems with small boats and a climate crisis - these are big problems in serious times.

"I think we've always been serious about them, but I think what Keir was really showing today was what guides him and what's guiding this government and really who we're on the side of - and that's just ordinary people whose life he wants to improve."

Leigh and Atherton MP Jo Platt, who returned to Parliament in July after losing her seat to the Tories in 2019, said that Sir Keir's speech 'energised' party members. Asked if the party needed that boost, she said: "We absolutely did."

She said: "It's been really, really quick hasn't it? When you think of this year, we didn't know we were having a general election, when we were having it, we've gone into that, as soon as we get into Parliament, obviously we get into recess and some big policy announcements. I'm speaking as a new MP - that's been quite tough, to lay the foundations of the constituency office and everything else.

"But, look, we spelt out in the campaign, there were going to be tough decisions. We're dealing with that but we know what that prize is and I think Keir laid that out in that speech then."