Yahoo News Keir Starmer promises to 'turbocharge' Liverpool as conference kicks off in city
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to "turbocharge" Liverpool and Merseyside's growth as he makes a promise to ECHO readers at the start of the Labour Party Conference in the city. The Prime Minister has vowed that this region will not be left behind as he attempts to rebuild the country.
Labour are returning to Liverpool for their annual conference over the next four days, but this time they do so as the party of government following their landslide general election win in July. Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to deliver on the change that the people of this city and this region voted for.
READ MORE: What new Labour government has got right and wrong as party arrives in Liverpool
In exclusive comments written for the Liverpool ECHO, the Prime Minister said: “Conference this year is a momentous one for the Labour Party. It’s the first time we have come together as the governing party in 15 years.
"Being here in Liverpool is a chance for old faces and new to celebrate our remarkable achievement together. But also, and I speak on behalf of the entire Labour Party when I say this, this year’s Conference is an opportunity to hear first-hand from communities in the region after a deeply challenging time.
“But our work delivering change has only just begun. As Liverpool ECHO readers know all too well, opportunities for our party to transform the lives of working people don’t come around too often. We cannot waste it."
Sir Keir, who will deliver his keynote address to the conference on Tuesday afternoon, added “We’ve started on the work of change already by being honest with the British people about the state of our inheritance, uncovering a £22bn black hole in the public’s finances – the least Echo readers deserve.
"It’s why we’re lazer-focused on fixing the foundations as a rock-solid platform from which to rebuild Britain. Because this will be a government of national renewal, one that breaks down the barriers to British prosperity by growing the economy, boosting housing density in our urban areas, switching to clean energy, and mending our public services.
"It will be one that doesn’t leave Merseyside behind but turbocharges its growth through devolution and empowering local leaders like Steve Rotheram who are at the forefront of driving that growth."
The Prime Minister added: “That is the change Liverpool voted for, and it’s the change we are determined to deliver. Because for far too long, the people of Liverpool have been let down by Conservative governments.
"Now we have turned the page. Now we begin delivering the change this region voted for, together, by fixing the foundations, and rebuilding the country so we don’t return to the chaos of the last 14 years.”
The conference will kick off today with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner welcoming delegates with a speech this morning. Tomorrow will bring the turn of Chancellor Rachel Reeves to lay out the government's economic plans, before Sir Keir takes to the stage on Tuesday. There is also a packed programme of fringe events and the ECHO will be reporting live from all four days of the conference from Liverpool's Arena and Convention Centre.
