A defiant Andy Burnham hit back at those demanding he make “simplistic statements of loyalty” to Sir Keir Starmer, saying they were “underestimating some of the peril” Labour was in.
The Manchester mayor warned of the difficult elections the party faced in Scotland and Wales, which it was on course to lose next year.
As speculation continued to grow over a challenge to Starmer’s leadership, Mr Burnham told a fringe at the Labour conference: “I would say those out there making calls for simplistic statements of loyalty… are underestimating some of the peril that the party is in in those elections next year.”
He said there was a need to end a “climate of fear” in the party, which would allow more room for debate. “I think we do need to debate at this conference in my view, is how can you have an open debate about all of those things if there’s too much of a climate of fear within our party and the way the party is being run,” he said.
Sir Keir tried to rally Labour MPs at the start of party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Sunday, but was still facing questions from within Labour over his leadership.
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Key Points
- Starmer says Farage's migration plan is 'racist' and 'immoral'
- Burnham says Labour must change ‘climate of fear'
- Andy Burnham refuses to make 'simplistic statements of loyalty' to Keir Starmer
- Ed Miliband says ‘possible’ that UK government should leave X
- David Lammy to announce expansion of 'intensive supervision courts' to tackle reoffending
- Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour conference
Labour takes fight to Reform on diversity
06:52
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Labour is taking the fight to Trumpian critics of diversity and equality, with the tech secretary vowing to “smash the glass ceilings” holding women and people of colour in the tech industry back.
With Reform UK threatening to sack diversity officers in councils across the country, Liz Kendall is taking the fight to Nigel Farage and ramping up the government’s efforts to boost representation.
On current trends, it would take 283 years for women to make up an equal share of the tech workforce, according to the BCS Chartered Institute for IT.
Archie Mitchell has more.
‘No to Digital ID’ protests held near Labour Party conference
06:35
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Protesters gathered outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool yesterday to oppose plans for a new national digital ID card.
Demonstrators carried banners reading “No to digital ID”, as they warned the scheme could pave the way for surveillance and the exclusion of vulnerable groups. The protest remained peaceful under police watch.
The protest comes days after Sir Keir Starmer unveiled proposals for a new “BritCard” digital ID system.
More here.
Labour must change ‘climate of fear’, says Burnham
06:08
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Andy Burnham hit out at a “climate of fear” in Labour as he called for a “debate on our direction” on the first day of the party’s conference in Liverpool.
The Greater Manchester mayor was greeted with multiple rounds of applause as he criticised the Labour leadership’s handling of dissent, attacking a situation where party members were “suspended for liking a tweet by another political party” or “a Member of Parliament loses the whip for trying to protect disability benefits”.
He said: “One thing I am worried about, and I think we do need to debate at this conference in my view, is how can you have an open debate about all of those things if there’s too much of a climate of fear within our party and the way the party is being run.”
More here.
Ed Miliband says ‘possible’ that UK government should leave X
05:50
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Energy minister Ed Miliband has said it is “possible” the government should come off X, because Elon Musk is a “dangerous man”.
Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour conference, Mr Miliband said: “It’s not just that [Nigel] Farage wants less workers’ rights and all those things. Even though he poses as something else, he is now part of a global network of the far right, a global network of billionaires like Elon Musk who want to take away people’s rights, take away people’s freedoms, and we need to have that argument.”
Mr Miliband said of Musk: “He called for the overthrow of our government. He incited violence on our streets. His platform, X, promotes disinformation. He’s a dangerous person.”
Asked if that meant the government should leave X, he said: “It’s possible.”
Mr Musk appeared via video link at a far-right rally in London organised by convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, where he called for a “change of government”. He said: “Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die.”
Five things Keir Starmer must do at the Labour conference after devastating poll
05:30
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
With Andy Burnham and left-wing Labour rebels threatening to oust him on one side and Nigel Farage taking Labour voters away on the other, Keir Starmer arrives in Liverpool as a man under siege, writes political editor David Maddox.
Tech giants could be handed hefty fines for cyberflashing in new rules
05:10
,
Maira Butt
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to announce cyberflashing as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act on Monday.
Ms Kendall will order firms to detect and remove unsolicited explicit images being sent online, in her speech at the Labour conference on Monday.
Firms that fail to comply could be fined up to 10 per cent of qualifying global revenue and see their services blocked across the UK.
The new policy plans to place extra duties on firms to protect users from seeing unsolicited nude images or videos.
She will say: “Keeping children safe online is non-negotiable... So platforms will be required – by law – to detect and remove this material. Because what is illegal offline, must be illegal online.”
Cyberflashing became a criminal offence in England and Wales in January 2024.
Labour to fund skills centre in Glasgow
05:02
,
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The UK government is to fund a skills centre to support shipbuilding in Scotland, with defence secretary John Healey accusing SNP ministers of failing to back the sector.
Mr Healey will use his speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool today to confirm £2.5m is being made available for the specialist welding skills centre on the Clyde in Glasgow.
The UK government has worked with Scottish Labour and Rolls-Royce to save the £11m Welding Development Facility.
It is hoped the centre will train the next generation of shipbuilders, with the funding coming after the UK government signed a £10 billion deal which will see Type 26 frigates for Norway built on the Clyde.
The UK government stepped in amid Labour concerns that the SNP's "anti-defence stance" was putting the creation of the welding skills centre in jeopardy.
Mr Healey said: "Labour is proud of Scotland's maritime heritage, and we are taking action to ensure its success long into the future."Where the SNP won't back Scottish industry, young people or our national security, Labour will step in.
"With our record defence investment, and our record export deals, Labour is making Scotland a shipbuilding superpower once again.
"We'll deliver good, well-paid jobs and opportunities across the Clyde, Rosyth, Methil and beyond."
David Lammy to announce expansion of 'intensive supervision courts' to tackle reoffending
04:40
,
Maira Butt
Justice Secretary David Lammy will promise “smarter justice” as he announces new plans to expand sentences aimed at tackling the root causes of crime at Labour’s annual conference on Monday.
The expansion of “intensive supervision courts” will see criminals with a history of repeated short sentences, substance abuse, or other complex needs brought back before the same judge to monitor their progress.
The initiative aims to in addressing the causes of criminal offending.
Long-term unemployed youth will be guaranteed work or be stripped of benefits
04:20
,
Maira Butt
Young people considered long-term unemployed, will be guaranteed paid work and could face benefits cuts if they refuse, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce at the Labour conference on Monday.
Ms Reeves is expected to say: “We won’t leave a generation of young people to languish without prospects – denied the dignity, the security and the ladders of opportunity that good work provides.”
One in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are currently not in education, work, or training.
Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour conference
04:06
,
Maira Butt
Watch: Starmer brands Reform UK's indefinite leave to remain plan 'racist'
03:11
,
Maira Butt
Analysis: Starmer is in fighting mood
02:16
,
Maira Butt
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC this morning shows that he is in fighting mood as he enters a crucial Labour conference.
“I just need the space to do what I need to do,” he pleads as he is pressed on calls for Andy Burnham to replace him.
“We are in the fight of our lives on who we are as a country we need to be in that fight and not naval gazing.”
It is a message to his critics in Labour and the unions who are getting increasingly concerned about the distant lead Reform currently hold.
But this will be the theme of this conference building to Starmer’s big speech on Tuesday. At that point he needs to persuade an anxious party that he is the right man to lead them in this fight.
Watch: Next election will be 'battle for soul of this country' Starmer says as poll finds Farage on course for No 10
01:02
,
Maira Butt
Why Starmer launched his attack on ‘racist’ Farage
Monday 29 September 2025 00:13
,
Maira Butt
After a disappointing first 14 months in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer is trying to revive his fortunes at this week’s Labour conference with a similar tactic.
In describing Nigel Farage and Reform as “the enemy” and “racists” who would “rip Britain apart” he has deliberately raised the political temperature.
Simon Walters reports:
Mahmood launches immigration crackdown as she overhauls main route to gain British citizenship
Sunday 28 September 2025 23:41
,
Maira Butt
Shabana Mahmood is set to announce a major crackdown on migration through a radical overhaul of the main route for immigrants gaining British citizenship in the UK.
Under tougher measures set to be unveiled by the home secretary, migrants who want to remain in the UK will have to learn English to a high standard, have a clean criminal record and volunteer in their community to be eligible for indefinite leave to remain. They will also have to be working, paying national insurance and not be claiming benefits under the proposed changes.
Millie Cooke reports:
Watch: Starmer denies that he put land bought for parents into trust
Sunday 28 September 2025 23:16
,
Maira Butt
More than half of Labour want new leader at next election
Sunday 28 September 2025 22:44
,
Maira Butt
More than half of Labour members do not want Keir Starmer to lead the party at the next election, according to the results of a Labour List survey conducted by Survation and shared with Sky News.
The results revealed that 53 per cent believe the party needs a new leader, and 65 per cent said the prime minister was headed in the wrong direction. Only a quarter believed Mr Starmer was handling the party well.
Treasury Minister faces backlash as he calls Lib Dem leader Ed Davey 'fat bloke in a wetsuit'
Sunday 28 September 2025 22:08
,
Maira Butt
“What Britain needs to tackle Farage is a vision,” said Torsten Bell on Sunday.
“And the vision is not a fat bloke in a wetsuit, which the Lib Dems have got to offer.”
The MP faced backlash on X/Twitter as social media users called the comments “cheap and disgraceful”.
WATCH: Treasury Minister Torsten Bell calls Ed Davey a "fat bloke in a wetsuit" pic.twitter.com/VloG67zHI7
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) September 28, 2025
Consolation for Starmer as his MPs secure a late equaliser against Westminster’s journalists
Sunday 28 September 2025 21:15
,
Maira Butt
For many Labour MPs, this year’s conference is one they would not have minded missing.
The party is sitting far behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls and their leader is more unpopular than ever.
So it will have been a welcome break from an otherwise somber gathering in Liverpool to play in the traditional journalists v MPs football game.
The Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
‘No to Digital ID’ protests held near Labour Party conference in Liverpool
Sunday 28 September 2025 20:45
,
Maira Butt
Protesters gathered outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday (28 September) to oppose plans for a new national digital ID card.
Demonstrators carried banners reading “No to digital ID”, as they warned the scheme could pave the way for surveillance and the exclusion of vulnerable groups. The protest remained peaceful under police watch.
Camille Chorley reports:
Ed Miliband calls Elon Musk 'dangerous' and accuses him of baiting UK into 'US-style culture war' over climate
Sunday 28 September 2025 20:35
,
Maira Butt
Energy Secretary and former Labour leader Ed Miliband has hit out at Tesla billionaire Elon Musk at a Labour conference fringe event on Sunday.
“He called for the overthrow of our government. He incited violence on our streets,” he said. “His platform, X, promotes disinformation.”
He continued: “He is a dangerous person, definitely.”
Mr Miliband added that most Britons “really don’t like Elon Musk, they don’t like people coming and saying ‘we should overthrow the government’ and whatever other crap he says.”
He accused Musk of baiting the UK into a “US-style culture war” over climate.
Labour peer calls for abolition of the Treasury
Sunday 28 September 2025 20:15
,
Maira Butt
The Independent’s Political Correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Lord Maurice Glasman has called for the government to abolish the Treasury, saying it is filled with “PPE graduates who…don’t understand the meaning of work”.
He said at a fringe event at the Liverpool conference: “It’s just full of – no disrespect for most people in the room - these PPE graduates who are just really neoclassical, they just don’t understand the meaning of vocation the meaning of work.”
Wes Streeting calls on Labour leadership to 'show humility'
Sunday 28 September 2025 19:55
,
Maira Butt
“We would have avoided some of the mistakes of the past year if we’d listened to our MPs,” Health secretary Mr Streeting told the a fringe event at the Labour conference on Sunday.
“We’ve got to have the humility to listen.”
He welcomed Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s challenge, saying: “We’ve got to be self-confident enough as ministers to be open to challenge and openly debate different ideas - because it makes you stronger as a government.”
Andy Burnham comes out fighting as he warns Starmer’s Labour faces ‘peril’
Sunday 28 September 2025 19:35
,
Maira Butt
A defiant Andy Burnham has hit out at those demanding he make “simplistic statements of loyalty” to Keir Starmer – claiming they are underestimating “the peril” facing Labour.
And, in remarks which inflame rampant speculation over his leadership ambitions, he also said he wanted to reform the whips system at Westminster – which only a PM could attempt.
Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
Starmer walks out of pub after Newcastle United score against Arsenal
Sunday 28 September 2025 19:15
,
Maira Butt
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been seen leaving a pop-up pub in Liverpool shortly after Newcastle United scored a goal against his beloved football team, Arsenal.
The Prime Minister, a keen football fan and season ticket-holder at Arsenal, was joined by Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness at the Politico Pub after the Labour conference on Sunday.
He watched the Magpies take the lead in the 34th minute of the game and left promptly after.
Keir Starmer will resign if Labour perform badly in May elections, predicts Labour MP John McDonnell
Sunday 28 September 2025 19:00
,
Maira Butt
Labour MP John McDonnell has predicted that the prime minister will resign if May 2026 elections go badly for the party.
“I know Keir. I've worked with him. If we're still in this situation in six or nine months time in the polls - he's a responsible person, he'll ask himself the question about whether he's the right leader for this party,” the Mr McDonnell told Ayesha Hazarika on Times Radio on Sunday.
“He's not going to put our party or the country at risk. He'll make his own mind up that he's not the person for the job.”
He added: “I think if we get to next May and those elections are dire as they might be, and if we're still behind in the polls, I don't think it will take people coming along to oust him. I think he'll say: look for the interest of the party and the country, I'll go.”
My predictions for Keir Starmer – and the rest of the political landscape
Sunday 28 September 2025 18:45
,
Athena Stavrou
The prime minister could yet defy the prophets of doom, writes John Rentoul – and with Reform UK at ‘peak Farage’, the future looks set for coalitions rather than outright majorities:
Former Labour MP hits out at 'snake oil salesman' Nigel Farage
Sunday 28 September 2025 18:31
,
Maira Butt
“I think it’s time we start calling out snake-oil salesmanship and the divisiveness of Nigel Farage,” said former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth.
“That man could be the prime minister of our country.”
He continued: “Nigel Farage is talking about rounding people up and deporting them. Let’s call that out for the nasty, divisive politics that it is. If that means a fight at the next General Election, then my word we’re ready for it.”
Labour MP says his party is to blame for rise of Reform
Sunday 28 September 2025 18:14
,
Maira Butt
David Smith, MP for North Northumberland, argued that the success of Nigel Farage and Reform UK is partly Labour’s fault.
“The rise of Reform is about us ceding the ground to them,” he said at the Labour conference on Sunday. “It’s about us ceasing to be able to talk to the working class in a way that they can understand and connect with.”
Nigel Farage responds to Keir Starmer attacks
Sunday 28 September 2025 17:59
,
Maira Butt
Reform UK leader issued a brief statement on Sunday in response to Keir Starmer’s statements on his migration policy, writing on X/Twitter: “Keir Starmer has spent his entire weekend attacking Reform. This is the reason why.”
He shared an image of poll results indicating that Reform are on course to win a majority at the next General Election.
Keir Starmer has spent his entire weekend attacking Reform. This is the reason why. pic.twitter.com/zIqp1C9Cnr
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 28, 2025
Andy Burnham calls for Labour to end 'climate of fear' within party
Sunday 28 September 2025 17:45
,
Maira Butt
The Greater Manchester mayor said he had “launched a debate on our direction” and insisted he wanted the Prime Minister to succeed.
“One thing I am worried about, and I think we do need to debate at this conference in my view, is how can you have an open debate about all of those things if there’s too much of a climate of fear within our party and the way the party is being run,” he told a fringe event at the Labour Party conference.
Mr Burnham criticised a situation where “a party member is suspended for liking a tweet by another political party, or a Member of Parliament loses the whip for trying to protect disability benefits.”
He received a round of applause from the audience.
“If that is the way we’re doing things, where debate is being closed down, that to me is what we’ve got to change.”
Watch: Protesters take part in a 'No to Digital ID' demonstration near Labour Party conference in Liverpool
Sunday 28 September 2025 17:21
,
Maira Butt
Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour conference
Sunday 28 September 2025 17:02
,
Maira Butt
Police have begun arresting demonstrators in support of banned group Palestine Action, outside the Labour conference in Liverpool.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that officers are in attendance at a Defend Our Juries protest near to The Wheel of Liverpool this afternoon, Sunday 28 September.
“Some of the people in attendance have displayed material in support of Palestine Action.
“Officers are in the process of making arrests on suspicion of wearing/carrying an article supporting a proscribed organisation.”
Palestine Action was proscribed a terrorist organisation earlier this year.
Pro-Palestine and Digital ID protestors come face to face outside conference
Sunday 28 September 2025 15:31
,
Athena Stavrou
There are two protests currently happening outside of the Labour conference currently.
Pro-Palestine and people against Labour’s introduction of mandatory digital ID came face to face in Liverpool.
Defiant Burnham hits out at Labour politicians urging him to make ‘simplistic statements of loyalty’
Sunday 28 September 2025 15:14
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
A defiant Andy Burnham has hit back at those who have demanded he make “simplistic statements of loyalty” to Keir Starmer saying they are “underestimating some of the peril” Labour is in.
He warned of the difficult elections the party faces in Scotland and Wales, which it is on course to lose next year.
He told a fringe at the Labour conference: “I would say those out there making calls for simplistic statements of loyalty… are underestimating some of the peril that the party is in in those elections next year.”
He also said that Whitehall and Westminster “don’t like being answered back” after a week of intense speculation after he said Labour MPs had urged him to challenge for the leadership.
In response, Sir Keir compared him to Liz Truss and her disastrous mini Budget, after the mayor of Greater Manchester said the UK should no longer be in hock to the bond markets.
