Starmer says 'we’re only just getting started' as he faces down critics in Liverpool speech

Sir Keir Starmer said "we’re only just getting started” as he set out his plan to "build a new Britain" in his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The Prime Minister addressed the main hall at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre on Tuesday afternoon with a speech that lasted just under an hour.

Sir Keir is the first Prime Minister to speak at a Labour conference since Gordon Brown in 2009. He used his keynote speech to set out his vision for national renewal, telling the packed-out hall that it would be a "long-term project".

It was Sir Keir's first conference speech since Labour's July general election win and came as the party has endured a spell dominated by negative headlines. The new government has faced widespread criticism for the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners as well as being criticised for Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria accepting luxury gifts from Labour peer Lord Alli.

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The Prime Minister used his speech to tell delegates that the work to change Britain following 14 years of Tory rule had begun in earnest. He said: "Make no mistake, the work of change has begun. The patient, calm, determined era of politics as service has begun”.

There was some new policy included in the speech. Sir Keir said that his government will house all veterans in need of a home. He told the hall: “There is another injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets. In every town and city in this country, people who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.

“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore. And so today, I can announce that this government will respect that service. We will repay those who served us. And house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes.”

Sir Keir added that the government would make the same promise to young care leaders and victims of domestic abuse. He said: "They will have the security they deserve, they will have a roof over their head - because Britain belongs to them."

The Prime Minister also confirmed that he would bring forward a Hillsborough Law by the time of the next anniversary of the 1989 football stadium disaster in April. The legally-binding duty of candour on public servants and public authorities will have a range of sanctions for anyone who is found to have lied, misled, or withheld information and including criminal sanctions for the most egregious breaches.

He said: "For many people in this city the speech they may remember was the one here two years ago. Because that’s when I promised, on this stage, that if I ever had the privilege to serve our country as Prime Minister one of my first acts would be to bring in a Hillsborough law - a duty of candour.

"A law for Liverpool, a law for the 97, a law that people should never have needed to fight so hard to get, but that will be delivered by this Labour government. Today I can confirm that the duty of candour will apply to public authorities and public servants, the Bill will include criminal sanctions, and that the Hillsborough law will be introduced to Parliament before the next anniversary in April."

The ideas of service and pragmatism were central to the speech, as the Prime Minister took on critics who have suggested he should be bolder. He explained that his government would continue to operate in a "steady" manner.

He told the hall: "Service is the responsibility and opportunity of power. The pre-condition for hope. The bond of respect that can unite a country, bind us to the politics of national renewal. Service doesn’t mean we’ll get everything right.

"It doesn’t mean everyone will agree. But it does mean we understand that every decision we take, we take together. And that it is our duty to the British people to face up to necessary decisions in their interest.

"And I mean Conference, you know me by now, so you know all those shouts and bellows, the bad faith advice from people who still hanker for the politics of noisy performance, the weak and cowardly fantasy of populism - it’s water off a duck’s back.

"Mere glitter on a shirt cuff. It’s never distracted me before, and it won’t distract me now."

Sir Keir listed action including reforming planning, ending the doctors’ strike, launching Great British Energy – which he confirmed would be based in Aberdeen – and a plan to nationalise the railways as an indication of his government delivering on the promises made in its successful election campaign.

He said: "And we’re only just getting started. A crackdown on knife crime. A real living wage. A modern industrial strategy. A 10-year plan for our NHS.

“Devolution to our nations, regions and cities. The biggest levelling up of workers’ rights in a generation. More teachers. More neighbourhood police. More operations. Rebuilding our public services. Change has begun.”

As he drew the speech to a close, Sir Keir also paid tribute to people in Southport who helped clean up and rebuild the town following rioting this summer, describing them as the country's backbone.

He said: "Things change and some things need to change. But some things do not. And the joy and wonder of our nation, the spirit of its people - the cleaners, drivers, small business owners, teachers and teaching assistants.

"The people who came out and cleaned the streets, the brickies who rebuilt the broken walls in Southport - the backbone of this country. They are just as resilient as they were fourteen years ago. And no matter what loudmouths say on social media, their values are the same."