Live Blog: Starmer Addresses Labour Party Conference 2024 in Liverpool

15:00 The speech closes with a kiss from the Labour leader’s wife, as they pose for photo-ops.

14:58 “Why Labour? Because we serve your interests. Why Labour? Because we will grow every corner of our country. Why Labour? Because we have a plan.” This is the question many voters have asked since 2019, and Keir Starmer offers a response as he closes his speech.

 

14:57 Labours steps for growth: National Wealth Fund 2. Long-term stability for researchers, investors and innovators. 3. A new direction on skills, including technical excellence colleges 4. A new mindset.

 

14:56 Keir Starmer speaks out to Scottish voters, as he promises investment, and to “win every vote”.

 

14:48 Keir Starmer promises dialogue with the private sector to generate growth and help Britain overcome the Cost-of-Living Crisis, if elected in the upcoming election.

1.09.23 Sir Keir proposes a nationalised energy firm, as he has done previously. The company will be located in Scotland.

 

14:47 Labour’s economic plans outline the scrapping of zero-hours contracts and the introduction of a real living wage, to create growth.

 

14:43 Just Stop Oil has Tweeted in solidarity with today’s stage invader:

14:41 Keir Starmer criticises the Conservative’s “levelling up” strategy, which saw “Money trickle up, as jobs trickle out”.

 

14:39 Labour demonstrates a commitment to building and maintaining green spaces across Britain and maintaining the Green Belt.

 

14:37 Keir Starmer says that it’s time to “get Britain building” 1.5 million homes.

 

14:36 Keir Starmer calls for the “bulldozing” of Britain’s “restrictive planning strategies”.

 

14:35 He says: “No more bonuses for people pumping sewage into our waters. No more pensioners freezing while energy companies make record profits, no more contracts awarded through the back door. No more cleaners mocked as they clean up mess off the walls from illegal parties in Westminster.”

 

14:33 The Labour leader reflects on Labour’s working-class voting pool. He calls for the country to “equally respect” the efforts of all, and support amongst communities. The crowd responds very well to this.

 

14:26 Keir Starmer criticises the non-dom tax status policy, which has been assumed by Rishi Sunak’s wife.

 

14:25 Keir Starmer addresses the lengthy waiting lists across NHS services. “We have to get it back on its feet”.

 

14:23 Once again, he mentions a “decade of national renewal” being necessary for us to recover from the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

 

14:19 “It’s survival mode”: Keir Starmer recalls a conversation he had with a single mother, saying that he could see “the hurt in her eyes”. He says that this is the reality of the Cost-of-Living Crisis.

 

14:16 He mentions the “four nations united” and not “distracted”, which may not be good news for those in Scotland wishing for a referendum.

 

14:15 He describes climate change as a “recipe for instability, as we have all seen this summer”. This refers to the wildfires across Europe and North America.

 

14:14 Sir Keir gives his thoughts on the ongoing conflict in Israel, condemning the militant Group Hamas. He says that Israel has a right to defend itself and its people

 

14:13 As the Labour Leader “Gives a hand to business” His hand is covered in glitter from the earlier stage invader.

 

14:11 Higher growth, safer streets, cheap British power in your home, more opportunity in your community, the NHS taken off its knees, a Britain with its future back” Sir Keir is now pledging is part of a Labour future.

 

14:10 Keir Starmer has just promised a “decade of renewal” under Labour. This is quite an optimistic plan for the party, who received the second most votes in the 2019 General Election.

 

14:09 Keir Starmer has reserved the first part of his speech to scrutinising the government. He has ridiculed their business policies, and the RAAC controversy. No alternative policies as of yet.

 

 

14:08 “What is broken can be repaired, what is ruined can be rebuilt. Wounds do heal”. This is said after praising the previous Labour administration, compared with a “nation in decline” during the Conservative administration.

 

14:06 The speech is finally underway. The Labour leader begins apologising to Manchester for having to host the “circus” of a Conservative conference.

 

14:04 “If he thinks that bothers me, then he doesn’t know me” He says in reaction to the heckler. Pippa Crerar:

 

14:03 Despite the disruption before his speech has even started, Sir Keir keeps on smiling. He takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. He still has glitter in his hair and across his shoulders.

 

14:02 Oh dear! An invader has made his way onto stage, throwing glitter over Sir Keir. The protester says: “True democracy is citizen-led. Politics needs an update” Before being tackled to the floor by security staff.

 

14:02 A round of applause for the Labour Party Leader, who thanks a large audience, Ian Barnes Tweets: https://x.com/Ianbarnes2001/status/1711728634526826928?s=20

 

14:01 Keir Starmer walks on stage to ‘Lionheart’ by Joel Correy and Tom Grennan. The upbeat dance song may be to get the attention of younger voters.

 

14:00 Keir Starmer’s promotional video begins as the preface to his keynote speech.

 

The video shows the Labour leader meeting members of the public, with heavy features from Rachel Reeves.

 

13:58 Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to give his final conference speech before the anticipated general election.

The 2023 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool has heard from other members of the shadow cabinet, including a well-received speech from Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor.

Sky News’ Political Editor Beth Rigby posts that Reeve’s speech will be hard to follow:

Starmer’s speech will be received by a full venue in the North-West this afternoon.

The walls are painted red, but will the Opposition leader’s speech be enough to paint the nation in Labour’s colour?