Wes Streeting hit out at the ‘abysmal’ Tory record on defence, just hours before chancellor John Healey’s speech.
The defence secretary told delegates increased spending on defence would come with “trade-offs” and praised the chancellor for being a “champion” for supporting strong public services and national security.
Mr Streeting lashed out at Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and vowed that Labour would go “toe to toe” with the Tories on defence and “we will wipe the floor” with them.
Mr Streeting’s comments come a few hours before chancellor John Healey will take to the stage and vow to take Britain into a “new age of industrialisation” as he confirms a £6bn plan to build three new floating docks at the Royal Navy’s submarine base on the Clyde in Scotland.
As he sets out an economic vision in his address to the Labour Party conference for the first time as chancellor today he will insist that Britain’s “industrial past is being remade now for the modern world”.
Mr Healey’s speech at lunchtime comes amid speculation he could raise taxes to combat severe economic headwinds.
Key Points
- Streeting: Labour will wipe the floor with the Tories on defence
- Healey to promise to take Britain into 'new age of industrialisation'
- Miliband receives two standing ovations as he calls out Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank
- 'Our future lies in deeper partnership with EU’ - Miliband
- Timings on the main stage for Monday
Price of diesel in UK hits all-time high, new figures show
11:29 , Joe MiddletonDiesel prices have hit a new record high in the UK, passing the previous record set in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The average price of a litre of diesel stood at 199.18p on Monday, according to the latest figures from the RAC.
A litre averaged 142.38p at the start of the US-Iran war on 28 February this year, which was 56.8p less than today. The previous record high was 199.09p in June 2022.
Price of diesel in UK hits all-time high, new figures show
Miliband warns of 'threat' posed by AI and UK will lead efforts to 'manage' new technology
11:07 , Joe MiddletonMr Miliband warned it must not be left for Big Tech alone to put guardrails on AI to protect the public.
He said: “The technological progress offered by AI, as we see in our daily lives, is inspiring. But the threat it poses, according to its own inventors, is daunting.
“Now, some are calling for us to act, but other tech companies are saying we should leave it all to them. But friends, the lesson of history is that we cannot leave it to corporations to put in place the guardrails to serve the public interest.
“It is neither their purpose nor their motive. Theirs is to maximise profit. We cannot and will not allow that to come at the expense of our children or indeed humanity.
“That’s why, as part of our G20 presidency next year, this country will lead the efforts to manage AI so we keep our country and our world safe.
“And I say, no tech titan should stand in our way. And as we think about our role in the world, we will never be silent about injustice and suffering.”
Miliband receives two standing ovations as he calls out Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank
11:01 , Joe MiddletonOur political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:
The foreign secretary has enjoyed two enthusiastic standing ovations as he addressed the Labour Party conference.
He said the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank is “a stain on the conscience of the world” and added: “I want to say to the millions of people in this country, and indeed elsewhere, who have been moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people, we hear you. “You were right.”
'Our future lies in deeper partnership with EU’
10:57 , Joe MiddletonOur political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:
Ed Miliband has declared that Britain’s future lies in a ‘stronger and deeper’ partnership with the EU.
The foreign secretary said Britain supported Ukraine “as proud Europeans”.
“This is our continent, and if there is one lesson that I have seen demonstrated to me again and again in this job, it is this: Europe is not just our geography, but so much more,” he said.
“And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference: our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union.”
RAF Fairford 'a reminder of the threats our country faces', says Miliband
10:56 , Joe MiddletonA suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford is a “reminder of the threats our country faces”, foreign secretary Ed Miliband said.
He told Labour Party conference: “Events at RAF Fairford yesterday are a reminder of the threats our country faces.
“I want to thank our security services, armed forces and police for the work they did yesterday and they do all year round to keep our country safe.
“Friends, we will always stand up for our security against those who would do us harm.”
World order needs ‘rebuilding’, Ed Miliband says
10:51 , Joe MiddletonOur political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:
Ed Miliband has told the Labour Party conference that the world order ‘needs rebuilding anew’ amid Putin’s ‘war of terror’ in Ukraine.
The foreign secretary said it is time to “roll up our sleeves all over again, because once again the world order needs rebuilding anew”.
“We need to be honest about the world we confront. War has returned to Europe,” he said.
“Democratic norms are under threat as they haven't been for generations. The international rule of law is being brazenly flouted. New threats have emerged from the climate crisis to AI.”
He added: “There is only one response to these challenges: to fight for our values, the values my parents saw in Britain, values which today are more important than ever.”
Now it's time for the foreign secretary...
10:40 , Joe MiddletonWes Streeting has left the stage to rapturous applause from conference delegates.
Ed Miliband is now up on the stage.
Increased defence spending will come with 'trade-offs', says Streeting
10:37 , Joe MiddletonMore spending on defence will come with “choices and trade-offs”, defence secretary Wes Streeting has said, before adding that “you don’t make your country stronger by making our people poorer”.
He told Labour Party conference: “I know that more spending on defence comes with choices and trade-offs, but our critics on the right need to understand that you don’t make your country stronger by making our people poorer.
“And I also have to say directly to some of our critics on the left: you are not defending our public services by attacking investment in our national defences.”
He added: “In this Labour chancellor (John Healey), we have a champion for defence. He knows it’s not either or when it comes to public services and national security – they depend on one another.
“But with more money comes greater responsibility. Every pound the Ministry of Defence spends must be spent well, and so today, I make a promise: the Ministry of Defence I lead will be at the heart of our prime minister’s mission to re-industrialise Britain.”
Streeting: Labour will wipe the floor with the Tories on defence
10:33 , Joe MiddletonOur political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:
Wes Streeting has gone on to criticise the Conservative’s record on defence.The defence secretary gave examples of cross-party politicians in history working together on defence.
But he went on to say the current government hasn’t “seen that same responsible leadership from the current leader of the opposition”.
“So if Kemi Badenoch wants to go toe to toe with Labour on defence we will wipe the floor with the Tories so comprehensively that they will see their abysmal record of failure reflected back at them,” he said.
UK-US have ‘closest alliance of any two nations on earth’, Streeting says
10:27 , Joe MiddletonOur political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:
The defence secretary is currently addressing the Labour Party conference.
He began with acknowledging the RAF Fairford investigation.He said he was unable to give further details but told the conference the UK and US would ‘always stand together’.
“I do want to say that our friendship with America is the closest alliance of any two nations on earth,” he said. “And we will always stand together against those who hate our freedom and those who wish us harm.”
Streeting thanks security services over RAF Fairford incident
10:25 , Joe MiddletonThe defence secretary said: “What we saw yesterday from our security services, our armed forces and our police was just a small glimpse of the extraordinary work they do every day, around the clock and around the world, behind the scenes and without recognition, to keep our country safe.
“To all of them, from all of us, thank you.”
Streeting hails relationship with US
10:21 , Joe MiddletonWes Streeting started his speech by praising the UK’s relationship with the US in the wake of the suspected terrorist incident at RAF Fairford.
The defence secretary said he couldn’t add much detail to what he had already said because it was a live investigation.
However, he did take the time to praise the “special relationship” between the US and UK.
He said: “I do want to say that our friendship with America is the closest alliance of any two nations on earth, and we will always stand together against. those who hate our freedom and those who wish us harm.”
Breaking News
10:15 , Joe MiddletonWes Streeting has started his conference speech.
Wes Streeting will be speaking shortly
10:03 , Joe MiddletonThe defence secretary is on the stage and will be delivering his speech in a few minutes.
Pictured: High-profile donors Lord Alli and Dale Vince arrive for day two of Labour conference
09:51 , Joe Middleton
Heathrow expansion will make UK 'stronger' and boost economic growth, says Treasury minister
09:44 , Joe MiddletonA third runway at Heathrow will make the UK “stronger” by boosting jobs, economic growth and investment, a Treasury minister said after Andy Burnham declined to back the project.
Paymaster general James Murray said the expansion of the UK’s busiest airport was “really important for our future”.
On Sunday, the prime minister refused to explicitly back the project, saying it was subject to a consultation and primarily a decision for Londoners, despite the national significance of the proposals.
Mr Murray, whose Ealing North seat is in west London, told the Press Association it was not just an issue for the capital but affected the whole country.
He said: “What the Prime Minister set out yesterday was that it’s important to listen to Londoners and I know that – I’m a London MP and if I listen to my constituents, you know there are different views on it.
“But I think we recognise that having that third runway is really important for jobs, it’s really important to get that investment into Heathrow and it’s actually really important for the whole country because that investment in making Heathrow stronger, making our country stronger, making sure that we boost trade and making sure we get more jobs right across the country is really important for our future.”
RAF Fairford: Trump claims 'terror plot' was looking to do 'big damage'
09:40 , Joe MiddletonStreeting says farmer who ‘foiled bomb plot’ at RAF Fairford only has ‘partial picture’
09:31 , Joe MiddletonWes Streeting has said the farmer who phoned police about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford has only “a partial picture” of the situation.
The woman made the call during the early hours of Sunday morning after spotting a “large group of hooded and masked men” making their way from three large vans.
Five men were arrested on suspicion of explosive and terrorism offences, with counter-terror police understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to the suspected bomb plot at the military base, which is used by US bombers.
Streeting says farmer who ‘foiled bomb plot’ at RAF base only has ‘partial picture’
Streeting: The government is investing in Britain
09:12 , Joe MiddletonThe government is “investing here in Britain” with a pledge to procure three new floating docks at Faslane through a UK-only competition, Wes Streeting has said.
Chancellor John Healey is expected to confirm a UK-only competition will take place in a speech later on Monday.
Mr Streeting, the defence secretary, told Sky News: “We are choosing through actions, not just words, to back Britain by buying British.
“We know that we needed new floating dock facilities up on the Clyde. Previously, the default option would have been to go out to tender across the world and potentially see billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money and jobs in shipbuilding go elsewhere.
“That’s not the political choice we’re making today.
“We’re announcing that around £6 billion-worth of our public money is going to stay here in Britain – backing Britain, buying British – so that’s a way in which we can demonstrate to people that, as well as spending the proceeds of growth, we’re investing here in Britain.”
Exclusive: Majority of Britons say government only protects free speech it agrees with
08:50 , Joe MiddletonNew polling has revealed that most Britons believe the government only protects free speech it agrees with.
The survey, commissioned by the human rights organisation Liberty and conducted by pollsters More in Common, found 54 per cent of Britons believe the government only protects speech that it agrees with.
It came just hours after police arrested supporters of the controversially proscribed group Palestinian Action protesting outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Majority of Britons say government only protects free speech it agrees with
Analysis: Making social care the defining issue of the next election guarantees Burnham cannot go early
08:38 , Joe MiddletonMaking the reform of social care the centrepiece of the next Labour manifesto changes everything, as political editor David Maddox explains.
If social care is the defining issue of the next election Burnham cannot go early
Streeting: We are committed to the pensions triple lock
08:29 , Joe MiddletonThe pensions triple lock is expected to stay in place until the next general election, Wes Streeting has said.
Asked whether it was “right to look at the triple lock” to support defence and social care spending, Mr Streeting told Sky News: “The manifesto was clear on this – we’re committed to the triple lock.
“And (prime minister) Andy Burnham has been clear that we are standing by our manifesto.
“So, I hope that’s clear.”
Wes Streeting pressed over terror police 'investigating Iran link' to suspected bomb plot near RAF Fairford
08:19 , Joe MiddletonTimings on the main stage for Monday
08:06 , Joe Middleton1005 - Wes Streeting
1030 - Ed Miliband
1140 - Jonathan Reynolds
1200 - Chancellor John Healey
1400 - Heidi Alexander
1440 - Miatta Fahnbulleh
1520 - Alex Norris
1600 - Shabana Mahmood
Streeting: The public only have 'partial picture' of RAF Fairford situation
08:01 , Joe MiddletonWes Streeting said the member of the public who phoned police about suspicious activity near RAF Fairford has only “a partial picture” of the situation.
The defence secretary told Sky News: “Thank you to that member of the public.
“She has done exactly what we would hope that someone in that extraordinary situation would do.
“I’m really grateful to her – I think she acted, by her own admission, quickly and thoughtfully, and she did the right thing.
“With respect, though, she does only have a partial picture.
“And that’s as far as I wish to go this morning but I do want to emphasise my thanks to the police and the security services because their work takes place often unsung, unreported, for good reason.”
Khan urges Burnham to do the 'heavy lifting' required to rejoin the EU
07:50 , Joe MiddletonLondon mayor Sadiq Khan has urged Andy Burnham to start as soon as possible to rejoin the EU.
Mr Khan is calling for a return to the customs union “straight away” and wants Mr Burnham to take a proactive role explaining why Britain is better off in the EU.
The Labour peer told the i paper: “We’ve got to start the work now.
“You can’t, a week before a general election, pull out of a hat this rabbit of a manifesto and say we’re going to rejoin in six weeks’ time.
“The heavy lifting, the pitch-rolling must be done now, explaining to the country the disbenefits of being outside the European Union and the benefits of being part of this family.”
Streeting 'grateful' for vigilant public who alerted police to suspected terror plot
07:35 , Joe MiddletonDefence secretary Wes Streeting said he is “grateful for the vigilance of the members of the public”, who are thought to have helped alert the emergency services to a suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford.
Speaking on Times Radio on Monday morning, Mr Streeting said the investigation into a suspected terror plot against the Gloucestershire airbase “continues today”.
He added: “We are grateful for the vigilance of the members of the public.
“But I also want to state personally my enormous thanks to our police, our counter-terrorism police, emergency services and the security services for their hard work to defend our base at RAF Fairford. I also want to thank the members of the public who’ve beared (sic) with us.
“We’ve had a number of people evacuated from their homes in the early hours of yesterday morning, there’s a cordon that remains in place and there has been disruption to their lives – and I want to thank them for their forbearance.”
Asked whether the the incident “may have been driven by a hostile foreign state”, Mr Streeting told the broadcaster he did not “want to speculate at this stage of the investigation”.
ICYMI: Lucy Powell accuses Farage of ‘hating foreigners’ while ‘loving their money’
07:27 , Joe MiddletonWho are we expecting to speak at Labour conference today?
07:24 , Joe MiddletonChancellor John Healey will take to the stage at midday and is expected to promise to take Britain into a ‘new age of industrialisation’.
He is expected to confirm a £6bn plan to build three new floating docks at the Royal Navy’s submarine base in Scotland.
Later in the day at 4pm home secretary Shabana Mahmood will tell gathered delegates that she is opening a new legal route for refugees that prioritises Afghan women and Palestinians.
Healey to promise to take Britain into 'new age of industrialisation'
07:00 , Harriette BoucherJohn Healey will vow to take Britain into a “new age of industrialisation” as he sets out an economic vision based on modern industry on Monday.
In his address to the Labour Party conference for the first time as chancellor at midday, he will insist that Britain’s “industrial past is being remade now for the modern world.”
Describing his politics as “shaped by the industrial heartlands of South Yorkshire”, he is expected to point to the example of the former Orgreave mine, now the site of Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.
As part of the pledge, he is expected to confirm more support for Britain’s shipbuilding industry, which will include investment in the Royal Navy’s Scottish submarine base.
It follows Louise Haigh’s announcement on Sunday, in which she revealed that the government was investing £115 million into a state-of-the-art marine research vessel commissioned to “meet the new challenges we face”.
What is happening at the Labour conference today?
06:15 , Harriette BoucherTiming on the main stage
10.05am - Defence secretary Wes Streeting
10.30am - Foreign secretary Ed Miliband
11.40am - Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds
12pm - Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey. He will pledge to take Britain forward into a “new age of industrialisation”
2pm - Transport secretary Heidi Alexander
2.40pm - Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh
3.20pm - Justice secretary Alex Norris
4pm - Home secretary Shabana Mahmood
Recap: Highlights of Sunday's opening day
05:30 , Harriette BoucherKicking off the first day of Labour’s conference yesterday, Andy Burnham declared that a free social care service in the style of NHS will be in Labour's next manifesto as he promised to “grasp the nettle” of reform in England.
He described social care in England as being as “unfair as American healthcare, where the most vulnerable in society can lose everything.”
The prime minister rejected suggestions a free care service could cost taxpayers £18 billion a year, telling BBC “it’s not that high”.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander revealed that Avanti West Coast services will be under public ownership from March next year.
Meanwhile, Louise Haigh announced that the government was investing £115 million into a state-of-the-art marine research vessel commissioned to “meet the new challenges we face”.
Throughout the conference, Mr Burnham was receiving updates on the major incident near RAF Fairford, which he described as “deeply concerning”.
More than 250 people staged a protest in support of Palestine Action at the conference on Sunday, with police arresting dozens of demonstrators.
Scores of police stood by before moving in to start making arrests, telling protesters they were holding up a sign supporting a proscribed organisation.
Editorial: Burnham must stop campaigning and offer detail, not just ‘hope’
05:00 , Harriette Boucher
Burnham must stop campaigning and offer detail, not just ‘hope’
In pictures: Dozens arrested outside Labour’s conference over support for Palestine Action
04:00 , Harriette Boucher
Burnham warned he can’t wait for election to start rejoining EU
03:00 , Harriette BoucherAndy Burnham has been warned that he does not have enough time to wait until the next general election to start the process of rejoining the EU.
The prime minister has so far refused to rule out pledging to rejoin the EU in the next Labour manifesto, but senior Labour backbencher Stella Creasy, chair of the influential Labour Movement for Europe, has said he only has six months to start taking action.
Ms Creasy spoke to The Independent at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool ahead of the Labour Movement for Europe rally due to be addressed by foreign secretary Ed Miliband.
The intervention comes as momentum has begun to build behind the push for the UK to rejoin the EU with former prime minister Sir Tony Blair saying Mr Burnham needs to have a plan in place for the UK to rejoin in a decade.
Read more here:
Burnham warned he cannot wait until election to start process of rejoining the EU
Labour 'not in position' to call early election
02:00 , Harriette BoucherLabour is not “in a position where it could contemplate an early election”, polling expert Sir John Curtice has said.
Speaking at a fringe event at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Sir John, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, said it was a “message that the prime minister seems to have quite clearly learned”.
Asked if there should be an early election, he said: “No.”
Earlier he said: “You have heard a lot about the mega polls in recent days, and these, in a sense, put a clear sense of reality on the fact yes, the party is ahead.
“Yes, it’s now ahead of Reform, but that in itself… is not enough for anybody to contemplate the idea that this party is currently, at least, in a position where it could contemplate an early election.”
He also said Reform UK peaked in the polls “12 months ago” and if anyone would succeed in eliminating leader Nigel Farage “it’s going to be the Conservatives” not Labour.
Watch: Andy Burnham says social care is as 'unfair as American healthcare' and will break the NHS
01:00 , Harriette BoucherHealey to promise to take Britain into 'new age of industrialisation'
Monday 28 September 2026 00:02 , Harriette BoucherJohn Healey will vow to take Britain into a “new age of industrialisation” as he sets out an economic vision based on modern industry on Monday.
In his address to the Labour Party conference for the first time as chancellor at midday, he will insist that Britain’s “industrial past is being remade now for the modern world.”
Describing his politics as “shaped by the industrial heartlands of South Yorkshire”, he is expected to point to the example of the former Orgreave mine, now the site of Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Park.
As part of the pledge, he is expected to confirm more support for Britain’s shipbuilding industry, which will include investment in the Royal Navy’s Scottish submarine base.
It follows Louise Haigh’s announcement on Sunday, in which she revealed that the government was investing £115 million into a state-of-the-art marine research vessel commissioned to “meet the new challenges we face”.
Shock energy price data risks Burnham ambitions to fix social care
Monday 28 September 2026 00:00 , Harriette BoucherThe prime minister said he would ‘grasp the nettle’ of social care reform in England and put his plans to voters at the next election but new energy prices seen by The Independent risks wrecking his hopes:
Shock energy price data risks Burnham ambitions to fix social care
'Farage couldn't care less about violence against women and girls’, says education secretary
Sunday 27 September 2026 23:00 , Harriette BoucherNigel Farage ‘couldn't care less about violence against women and girls’, Bridget Philipson has said.
Speaking to The Telegraph at the Labour conference on Sunday, she said: “I don't think he cares about violence against women and girls.
“One, he will only ever talk about it in the context of immigration and asylum. I’ve never hear him talking about it any other time.
“Two, when was the last time Nigel Farage ever visited a women's refuge or a rape crisis centre? Has he ever visited one? Has he ever spoken to any of the women that are affected by it?”
She accused the Reform leader of using “violence against women and girls as a political football in order to weaponise an issue”.
Watch: Lucy Powell accuses Farage of ‘hating foreigners’ while ‘loving their money’
Sunday 27 September 2026 22:24 , Harriette BoucherBurnham refuses to say whether he backs third runway at Heathrow
Sunday 27 September 2026 22:00 , Harriette BoucherAndy Burnham has refused to say whether he backs plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport, describing the issue as a “matter for London and Londoners”.
The project was given the support of his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer and former chancellor Rachel Reeves, who said it would create 100,000 jobs.
But Mr Burnham was unwilling to confirm he was in favour of the project going ahead in an interview marking the start of Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
“Principally, it’s a matter for London and Londoners,” he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg when asked if he would back the move.
He diverted questions about his views, saying he would wait to hear the outcome of a consultation process on the matter.
“It’s not right for me to just jump straight in on the back of the consultation,” he said.
Government to spend £115m on marine research vessel
Sunday 27 September 2026 21:15 , Harriette BoucherThe government is investing £115 million into a state-of-the-art marine research vessel commissioned to “meet the new challenges we face”.
Louise Haigh pledged to “put the guts back into government” as she made the announcement at the Labour conference on Sunday,
She said the vessel will be procured and built in the UK to drive forward “a new era of reindustrialisation”.
It will replace RV Cefas Endeavour and is expected to lead a new national system for monitoring the UK’s seas to help manage fisheries and the marine environment more effectively.
She told conference: “We are strengthening our National Shipbuilding Office, so it takes responsibility for the procurement of all civil ships across government, to map out a long-term strategy that meets our national requirements, safeguards our national security, and backs our national industries, to bring an end to the feast and famine of public contracts, and drive a new era of reindustrialisation through our shipbuilding sector.
“That process won’t start in due course or at some vague point in the future. It begins here and now.
“We have redesigned procurement processes to reflect this Government’s priorities, and I can announce today that we will commission a new state-of-the-art marine research vessel designed to meet the new challenges we face, and it will be procured and built here in the UK by our workers in our shipyards.”
Avanti West Coast services to be nationalised from March
Sunday 27 September 2026 20:40 , Harriette BoucherAvanti West Coast services will be under public ownership from March next year, the government has announced
Heidi Alexander said nationalisation will be supported by a plan to improve infrastructure, reduce delays and improve passenger experience.
The transport secretary said: “For years, we’ve heard stories of Avanti underperforming, with passengers left paying the price. Enough is enough.
“That is why we will bring Avanti into public ownership at the earliest opportunity, in March next year.
“This Labour government is committed to putting essential services back in public hands, connecting people to opportunity and delivering growth in every postcode and this move reflects that commitment.
“We will also introduce a comprehensive improvement plan, focused on delivering for passengers, not shareholders.”
Analysis: Making social care the defining issue of the next election guarantees Burnham cannot go early
Sunday 27 September 2026 20:20 , Harriette BoucherMaking the reform of social care the centrepiece of the next Labour manifesto changes everything, as political editor David Maddox explains:
If social care is the defining issue of the next election Burnham cannot go early
Editorial: Burnham must stop campaigning and offer detail, not just ‘hope’
Sunday 27 September 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherLabour’s slogan for this week’s party conference is “Hope Again”, which is very much the sort of mood and language – “vibes” – in which Andy Burnham specialises; it did, after all, help him seize the leadership of his party from Sir Keir Starmer.
Nowhere is this mood of hope, even blind optimism, more necessary for progress than in the reform of social care. It is a cause to which Mr Burnham re-dedicated himself in his television interview with Laura Kuenssberg. The recent passing of his father, Roy, is a reminder of the prime minister’s personal experience of how the NHS and care system interact – or don’t. Roy Burnham had been in care for several years, living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer and receiving specialised care for his advanced Alzheimer’s; as the prime minister noted, his father did not understand that his son had been appointed prime minister.
Many voters will be familiar with these kinds of experiences. Mr Burnham has tried to make the case for a fairer and more effective social care system ever since he was the secretary of state for social care in Gordon Brown’s government. Like everyone else, Mr Burnham will also have seen successive prime ministers – notably Theresa May and Boris Johnson – fail to meet their own promises to fix the crisis in social care “once and for all”.
Now it is Mr Burnham’s turn, and he is setting down the principles for what he may hope will become known as the Burnham reforms. Often criticised for vagueness, the prime minister is at least clearer now that his new care system will “work on NHS principles” – free at the point of use, paid for by everyone – though a “precise explanation” as to how it's going to be funded will follow, perhaps with more details disclosed in his keynote speech on Tuesday. Progress of sorts is being made. In his first weeks in power, Mr Burnham set in train useful work so that frail elderly patients can move seamlessly between hospitals, home care and community services; this has the additional bonus of freeing up hospital beds. He also wants more “preventative” social care, supporting people to live in their own homes for longer.
Burnham must stop campaigning and offer detail, not just ‘hope’
Cutting UK out of Made in Europe plan not in anyone’s interest, says trade secretary
Sunday 27 September 2026 19:40 , Harriette BoucherJonathan Reynolds has warned against European protectionist measures, arguing they are not in “anyone’s interests”.
The European Union’s proposed Made in Europe scheme intends to focus public contracts and subsidies on manufacturers based within the bloc.
Mr Reynolds said it “wouldn’t be to the benefit of Europe to cut the UK out of that”, claiming the UK’s involvement would improve the scheme’s “resilience and autonomy”.
Formally known as the Industrial Accelerator Act, the scheme is intended to protect clean technology firms and electric vehicle manufacturers from cheap Chinese competition.
However, Andy Burnham has urged the EU to avoid causing “collateral damage” to British industry.
He said there was “considerable support” among EU member states for the UK’s position “because Europe’s argument is not with us”.
Speaking on the fringes of the Labour Party conference, Mr Reynolds told the Politico Pub: “Made in Europe – what is the intention on the EU side? They say it’s about greater resilience, greater autonomy for European industry in the face of very significant pressures from both the US and China.
“Now, if that is the objective, it stands to reason that the UK, as the second biggest economy in Europe, should be a part of that, because you will increase your resilience and autonomy by having a substantial economy like ours within there.
“If it is a essentially a very old-school kind of protectionist measure. Well, that would be very difficult for us. And frankly, isn’t in anyone’s interests in Europe.”
