Sir Keir Starmer has been defeated in a vote to reverse the controversial cut to the winter fuel payments exposing a rift within the Labour party.
The non-binding motion, named An Economy for the Future and tabled by Sharon Graham of the Unite union and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), was passed by a show of hands in a rowdy hall at the Labour Party annual conference.
In a show of defiance, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham called Labour members to rebel against the policy as she shouted: “This is not what people voted for.”
The motion called for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be scrapped and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
The prime minister said in his conference speech on Tuesday that he understood concern over the winter fuel allowance but stressed that stabilising the economy was the first step of a long-term plan, adding: “Every pensioner will be better off with Labour.”
Sir Keir has now left the conference to join world leaders at the United Nations with a promise to deliver “global leadership” as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out conflict and the bloody war in Ukraine grinds on.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Key Points
- Starmer suffers setback at conference over winter fuel cuts
- Labour responds to motion to stop winter fuel payment cuts
- Tories: Starmer lost support of his paymasters
- Unite protest to ‘save the winter fuel’ at Labour conference
- Prime minister heads to UN as Middle East tensions rise
How would you rate Keir Starmer’s Labour government so far?
14:20
Salma Ouaguira
Nearly half of Britons have voiced their disappointment with the new Labour government, following “sleaze” allegations, controversy over Sue Gray’s salary, and a heated debate over cuts to the winter fuel allowance. Now it’s time to have your say...
Is your “honeymoon” with Labour over? How have recent events impacted your opinion of Starmer and his government?
Share your thoughts by adding them here — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.
Green party backs Unite call to scrap winter fuel payments cut
14:14
Salma Ouaguira
The Green party has backed Unite’s call for the government to scrap the winter fuel payment cuts and impose a wealth tax.
In a statement, party co-leader Carla Denyer said: “Today’s vote at Labour party conference leaves Labour ministers out in the cold. There is a groundswell of support - from opposition parties, unions, many Labour MPs, health workers, disability groups, charities supporting pensioners, as well as others - for ensuring millions of pensioners keep warm this winter.
“Targeting some of the most vulnerable to fix the supposed black hole in the public finances is cruel and unnecessary.
“There is another way. A fairer way. As the successful motion by Unite makes clear, taxing multi-millionaires and billionaires a little more would not only easily cover the cost of winter fuel payments for all pensioners but also generate additional funds for much needed investment in our health and social care services.”
Gove appointed editor of The Spectator
14:10
Salma Ouaguira
Michael Gove has been appointed as the new editor of The Spectator magazine following the takeover by GB News.
The former cabinet minister will begin his new job in October, just three months after standing down as an MP.
Tories hit out at Labour Party conference
14:08
Salma Ouaguira
Keir Starmer’s first conference in seven words:
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) September 25, 2024
Your taxes are going up.
Also, sausages.
Prime minister calls for Brits to leave Lebanon ‘immediately'
14:06
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has repeated calls for Brits to evacuate Lebanon “immediately” and called for the “de-escalation” in the Middle East.
The prime minister issued the warning last night after Israel’s bombarded Lebanon killing more than 560 people. Hundreds of British troops were deployed to Cyprus following the air strikes.
The PM told Britons today: “The contingency plans are being ramped up, but don’t wait for those.
“There are still commercial flights. It’s very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.”
Rail workers vote to accept pay offers
14:00
Salma Ouaguira
Workers have voted overwhelmingly to accept pay offers from train companies and Network Rail.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) backed a one-year rise of 4.5 per cent at Network Rail (NR) and increases at train operators of 4.75 per cent for the last year and 4.5 per cent for 2024/25.
Almost 99 per cent of train company members voted in favour while NR workers backed their pay rise by 88 per cent.
The RMT said the ballot results mean that the long-running national rail dispute is now over.
A statement said: “This outcome reflects the collective efforts of our membership in defending their jobs, working conditions, pay, and pensions from the attacks of the previous Tory government and their private contractors.
“We thank our members for their efforts during this long but successful campaign.
“Their resolve has been essential in navigating the challenges posed during negotiations and in particular the previous Tory government’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, alongside relentless attacks by sections of the media and the employers.
“RMT remains focused and committed to supporting public ownership as a path to building a stronger future for the rail industry for both workers and passengers.”
SNP mocks Labour conference rebellion
13:50
Salma Ouaguira
Even Labour disagree with Labour. https://t.co/ncpibh8oVi
— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) September 25, 2024
Education charities welcome extra childcare places announcement
13:40
Salma Ouaguira
Founder of the Sutton Trust has welcomed the Bridget Phillipson’s announcement of creating extra childcare places in state-schools.
Responding to education secretary Sir Peter Lampl said: “The government’s plan to set up new nurseries in schools is an excellent one given the pressures on the early years system to deliver the expansion of funded hours. Early years is the most important part of the education system.
“The education secretary is right to say that for many people, the system isn’t working as it should.”
Calling on the government to make the spaces accessible to everyone, Mr Lampl added: “We now urgently need a plan to equalise entitlements for children from poorer backgrounds.
“These children stand to benefit most from early years education but are excluded from expanded provision. For a government saying it will break down barriers to opportunity, this is the wrong approach. Without action, we are likely to see disadvantaged children falling further behind their peers.”
Extra childcare places in new school-based nurseries available from next year
13:20
Salma Ouaguira
Bridget Phillipson has said extra childcare places in new school-based nurseries in England will be available to families from next year.
The education secretary said the early years was her “first priority” as she accused the Conservatives of leaving behind a “threadbare” childcare system.
The expansion of funded childcare for working parents – which was introduced by the Conservative government – began being rolled out in England in April.
Working parents of all children older than nine months are now able to access 15 hours of funded childcare, before the full roll-out of 30 hours a week to all eligible families in September 2025.
In its manifesto, Labour said it would open an additional 3,000 nurseries through “upgrading space” in primary schools, to deliver the extension of government-funded hours families are entitled to.
Ms Phillipson told the Labour Party conference: “Today I can tell you that change begins, delivery begins: those extra places start opening next year.
“The first phase of our new nurseries, of high-quality early education, boosting life chances for children and work choices for parents.”
ICYMI: Unions win vote to reverse winter fuel cut in blow for Keir Starmer
13:00
Salma Ouaguira
Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool have voted to reverse the government’s controversial cut to winter fuel payments, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy.
In July, Rachel Reeves announced that older people not in receipt of pension credits or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive winter fuel payments from this year onwards.
The decision came as part of a series of spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government announced in July by the chancellor.
Our lobby team reporting from the Labour conference has the full story below:
Wes Streeting warns against ‘killing NHS with kindness’
12:40
Salma Ouaguira
Wes Streeting has warned against “killing the NHS with kindness”, as he vowed not to back down in his mission to reform the health service.
Giving a speech on the main stage of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, the health secretary said the NHS is “broken but not beaten”, accusing the previous Conservative administration of having betrayed the service by leaving it “totally unprepared for tomorrow”.
Mr Streeting told delegates on the final day of the conference that the government won’t put “protecting the reputation of the NHS above protecting patients”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:
Labour responds to motion to stop winter fuel payment cuts
12:26
Salma Ouaguira
Labour has reaffirmed its decision to cut the winter fuel payment after party delegates voted for the government to reverse the move.
Following a motion to stop the policy, which narrowly passed by a show of hands at the party’s annual conference, a Labour spokesperson said: “The Tories wrecked our economy and left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances. They made commitments they couldn’t pay for, covered it up and ran away.
“The Labour Party was elected on our manifesto commitment to sound fiscal rules, economic growth is our primary mission and we will take the tough decisions now to rebuild Britain and make every part of the country better off.”
Rishi Sunak speaks up
12:18
Salma Ouaguira
The former prime minister has taken to social media to respond to a raft of criticism and accusations made by ministers during the Labour Party conference.
Mr Sunak tweeted: “Labour inherited the fastest growing economy in the G7. But the prime minister and chancellor constantly talking the economy down has already had a damaging impact on consumer and business confidence.
“Time to stop playing politics and put country first, party second.”
Labour conference comes to an end
12:12
Salma Ouaguira
Following the dramatic winter fuel payment motion, party chairman Ellie Reeves takes the stage to conclude the Labour party conference.
She said: “The British people have given us that chance. We will not let them down.”
Delegates are now taking part in a traditional rendition of the socialist song The Red Flag.
Tories: Starmer lost support of his paymasters
12:07
Salma Ouaguira
The Tories have taken the opportunity to use the crushing vote against winter fuel allowance cuts from Labour members and unions to attack Sir Keir Starmer.
A Conservative Party source told The Telegraph: “Starmer has lost support of the Labour Party, his MPs and paymasters.”
Despite the bruising vote, the decision remains non-binding as it was already passed in parliament.
Keir Starmer refuses four times to apologise to pensioners for cutting winter fuel payments
12:00
Salma Ouaguira
Pictured: Labour delegates rebel against Starmer to scrap winter fuel allowance cuts
11:59
Salma Ouaguira
Labour members call government to use winter fuel payment to help children
11:57
Salma Ouaguira
Labour member Maggie Cosin said she did not need the winter fuel payment and the money should be used to help children and others in need.
The member from Dover and Deal Constituency Labour Party told conference: “Every single year, £200 comes into my bank account and every year I go and buy stuff for the food bank with it.
“I don’t need it, the children of this country need it.”
Ms Cosin said there is a need to “sort the economy”, adding: “It’s not a matter of taking it away from poor pensioners, it’s a matter of getting it to others.”
Breaking: Keir Starmer suffers setback at conference over winter fuel cuts
11:47
Tom Barnes
Sir Keir Starmer has suffered a blow on the last day of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, Archie Mitchell reports.
After the prime minister jetted to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, attendees at the get-together voted to overturn his decision to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
Left-wing unions forced a vote on the issue, which has sparked fury as struggling pensioners are bracing for higher energy bills this winter.
The PM’s loss makes him look out of step with his party and calls into question his authority.
But, given parliament has overwhelmingly supported the move, the vote was largely symbolic and will have little impact on the policy change going ahead.
Starmer accepted £200,000 accommodation to help son study for GCSEs
11:43
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer accepted £20,000 worth of accommodation to help his 16-year-old son study for his GCSEs, it has emerged.
The prime minister was asked by the BBC about a £20,437 donation from Labour peer Waheed Alli between May and July, confirming that the sum was for somewhere his son could study “peacefully”.
He told the broadcaster: “At the beginning of the election, which we didn’t know when it was going to be called, my boy was in the middle of his GCSEs.
“I made him a promise that he’ll be able to get to his school, do his exams without being disturbed.”
You can read the full story below:
Delegates address Labour conference as winter fuel payments vote starts
11:37
Salma Ouaguira
Dozens of union delegates are gathered around the main stage at the Labour Party conference.
Following her speech, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham prepares to move forward the motion to reverse cuts on the winter fuel allowance.
Seconding the motion, the Communication Workers Union’s Alan Tate has said that he has been “inundated” with calls from worried union members.
He told the crowd: “We should be taxing them, not taking away a lifeline for vulnerable people.”
‘Austerity mark two’ - Unite boss
11:27
Salma Ouaguira
Sharon Graham has told the conference that the UK is the 6th richest economy in the world.
She added: “We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won’t get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.
“These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.”
Unite leader Sharon Graham: ‘This is not what people voted for'
11:24
Salma Ouaguira
During a passionate speech, the general secretary of Unite has slammed the new Labour government for cutting winter fuel payments.
She said: “People simply do not understand and I don’t understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.”
She added: “This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.”
Starmer refuses to apologise to pensioners over winter fuel payment cuts
11:13
Salma Ouaguira
'Would you like to take this opportunity to say sorry?'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 25, 2024
Sir Keir Starmer refuses four times to apologise to pensioners for cutting winter fuel payments.@susannareid100 #GMB pic.twitter.com/rLOpj2BF0D
Liz Kendall takes over stage
11:12
Salma Ouaguira
It is now the turn of work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall to deliver her speech.
In an attempt to reassure pensioners amid the winter fuel payment row, the minister said the government has “done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years” as she defended cutting the winter fuel allowance to pensioners.
She told the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool: “Focusing winter fuel payments on the poorest pensioners wasn’t a decision we wanted or expected to make, but when we promised we could be trusted with taxpayers’ money – we meant it.
“And when we were faced with a £22 billion black hole, which the Tories left this year, we had to act, because we know what happened when Liz Truss played fast and loose with the public finances. It was working people and pensioners on fixed incomes who paid the highest price.
“We took what I know is a difficult decision, but let me tell you, Conference: this Labour government has done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years.
“The biggest ever drive to get pensioners on pension credit, backed by our commitment to the pensions triple lock. This will increase the state pension by an estimated £1,700 this parliament, with an extra £6 billion of funding forecast next year.
“Conference, this is the difference a Labour government makes.”
Hillsborough law to be introduced by April
11:10
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer announced during his speech in Liverpool that he will introduce a Hillsborough Law by April, the anniversary of the disaster, putting a legal duty of candour on all public bodies.
The legislation will include the potential for criminal sanctions for any official or authority that misleads or obstructs investigations.
Campaigners, including the families of the 97 Liverpool fans who were crushed to death at Hillsborough stadium in 1989, have been calling for such legislation for more than three decades.
Speaking on the main stage at Labour’s conference, Sir Keir said it was a law that “people shouldn’t have had to fight so hard to get”.
Here’s everything that was announced in Sir Keir’s Labour conference speech:
‘Education must serve the many, not the few'
11:05
Salma Ouaguira
Now turning on Labour’s plan to increase VAT on private schools, Bridget Phillipson said the move is to make education more accessible.
Ending her speech, the education secretary said: “Today the curriculum and assessment review begins a national conversation to ensure that a rich and broad education, the experience every parent wants for their children, is the experience of the many, not the privilege of the few.
“In less than 100 days we will end private schools’ tax breaks, to drive high and rising standards for the nine in 10 children who go to our state schools.”
‘Promise of opportunity must belong to all of us,’ says Phillipson
11:02
Salma Ouaguira
Bridget Phillipson has told conference attendees that the “promise of opportunity” must belong to all people “not just the few”
She said: “Life should not come down to luck. It can never be enough that a system that’s supposed to serve so many works only for a lucky few.
“It will never be enough for some of us to defy the odds to succeed when the promise of opportunity must belong to all of us. We have to change the odds so that success belongs to each and every child in each and every school in every corner of our country.”
Ms Phillipson also accused the Tories of leaving the country with a broken childcare system and teachers “in their droves”.
Watch: Underestimate Sue Gray at your peril, Rayner warns ‘entitled men’
11:00
Salma Ouaguira
Minister warns voters Tories must ‘never again’ govern
10:58
Salma Ouaguira
Bridget Phillipson has now shifted to the previous administration and has warned voters that the Tories must not return to government.
The education minister told the conference: “We know the Tories love a one-word judgment, but I have two: ‘Never again’.”
Phillipson: ‘Education so much more than classroom learning'
10:55
Salma Ouaguira
The Labour conference is now listening to Bridget Phillipson, who is now on her feet delivering her keynote speech at the main stage.
The education secretary has said that Labour sees education as “so much more than classroom learning”.
She added: “It is about children, and it is about their opportunities. Opportunity not just for some of our children, but for all of our children.
“A vision of education centred not simply on schools or nurseries, knowledge or skills, university or college, but on our young people and their chance to achieve and thrive, to succeed and flourish.”
Get updates from the Labour Party conference straight to your phone – for free
10:50
Salma Ouaguira
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Pictured: Unite Union members campaign defending the winter fuel payment
10:35
Salma Ouaguira
Watch: Union members stage demo ahead of Labour winter fuel allowance debate
10:25
Salma Ouaguira
The Tories ‘betrayed’ NHS by leaving it ‘totally unprepared for tomorrow’, says Streeting
10:19
Salma Ouaguira
Wes Streeting has accused the previous Conservative administration of having betrayed the NHS by leaving it “totally unprepared for tomorrow”, Millie Cooke reports from the Labour conference.
The health secretary told the Labour Party conference: “Every day in this job, I see the scale of the challenge but I also see something else – the potential of our NHS.”
The Tories’ biggest betrayal wasn’t that they left the NHS unable to care for us today, it’s that they left it totally unprepared for tomorrow.
“Advances in genomics, data mean the health care of the future would be more predictive, more preventative and more personalised than ever before.”
Labour to create ‘crack teams of top clinicians’ to help people back to work
10:15
Salma Ouaguira
Wes Streeting has announced the department for health will send “crack teams of top clinicians to hospitals across the country to roll out reforms developed by surgeons to treat more patients and cut waiting lists”.
The health secretary confirmed that the measures, revealed on the Labour’s manifesto, will start in 20 hospitals “in areas with the highest numbers of people off work sick”.
He added: “Our reforms are not only focussed on delivering our health mission, but also moving the dial on our growth mission too. We will take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, get sick Brits back to health and back to work.
“That’s the difference a Labour government makes.”
Wes Streeting promises to give care workers the 'status and respect they deserve'
10:10
Millie Cooke
The health secretary has promised to give care workers the “status and respect they deserve” through Labour’s manifesto pledge to build a National Care Service, our political correspondent Millie Cooke writes from the Labour conference.
Speaking on the main stage of the party conference in Liverpool, the health secretary said: “Angela and I will deliver a new deal for care professionals, a fair pay agreement to improve pay and conditions and give staff the status and respect they deserve.
“Our first step towards building a National Care Service.”
Health secretary vows NHS charges will be introduced 'over my dead body’
10:10
Salma Ouaguira
The health secretary has promised not to introduce charges to patients of the NHS.
Wes Streeting insisted that the NHS can still be reformed declaring: “Together, we will turn it around.
“We will always defend our NHS as a public service, free at the point of use, so that whenever you fall ill you never have to worry about the bill.”
He then claimed charges will be introduced “over my dead body”.
‘The NHS is broken but it is not beaten’ - Streeting
10:04
Salma Ouaguira
Despite the stark warning, Wes Streeting has insisted that “the NHS is broken but it is not beaten”.
The health secretary claimed that “every cancer patient deserves world class care” and that the two-tier system is a “cruel lottery” of “neglect”.
He added: “This meant that when the pandemic hit, our NHS was on its knees and hit harder than any comparable health care system.
“It isn’t just the Tories didn’t fix the roof while the sun is shining, they doused the house in petrol, left the gas on, and COVID just lit the match.”
Streeting: NHS is letting people down
10:01
Salma Ouaguira
Wes Streeting is delivering a major speech at the main stage on the final day of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
The health secretary began his address warning patients around the country that the NHS is “letting people down”.
He tells the conference about the case of a woman with stage four cancer who struggled to get diagnosed outside of private healthcare.
“Had she stayed with the NHS, Clare is certain she would be dead,” he added.
VOICES | Starmer’s speech finally gave us a reason to commit to the struggle
09:55
Salma Ouaguira
Labour has long warned the public of the struggle that lies ahead – but only now has the PM offered us the reasons why, writes Andrew Grice:
Watch live: Wes Streeting delivers speech on final day of Labour conference
09:55
Salma Ouaguira
Unite boss leads ‘save the winter fuel’ protest at Labour conference
09:52
Salma Ouaguira
The boss of Labour’s biggest union backer Unite has led a protest at party’s conference calling for Sir Keir Starmer to “save the winter fuel”, our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from the Labour conference.
Left-winger Sharon Graham and Unite members chanted the slogan ahead of a crunch vote on the government’s plan to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The protest took place at the Unite stand in the venue.
The move has been approved by parliament but the vote could still prove embarrassing for Sir Keir, showing that he is out of step with his party on the issue.
The session to consider their motion begins at 10.40am and the vote is expected from 11.35am.
Starmer: Long-term benefit claimants need to look for work if they can
09:45
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has said the “basic proposition” that long-term benefit claimants should look for work is right, after announcing new laws to crack down on welfare fraudsters.
He said people dealing with long-term sickness “need to be back in the workplace where they can”, promising support to help people back into employment.
As well as encouraging people back to work, the prime minister also announced new legislation to deal with welfare fraudsters more quickly, in a proposal Labour estimated would save the taxpayer £1.6 billion over the next five years.
In his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, the prime minister promised to “leave no stone unturned” in his mission to “rebuild our public services”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:
Starmer: We will listen carefully to Zelensky’s demands for Ukraine military aid
09:35
Salma Ouaguira
Ukraine’s desire to use western missiles to strike targets in Russia will not be the “sole issue” in Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan”, Sir Keir Starmer said.
The US and UK have so far refused to give Kyiv permission to use the missiles they have supplied against targets in Russia, despite repeated pleas from Mr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president has said that he is having to fight with his hands tied because he is unable to use the weapons to strike Russian airfields and military facilities which President Vladimir Putin is using to launch deadly air raids, missiles and drones.
Sir Keir is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where Mr Zelensky will present his plan for the next stage of the war to his allies.
The prime minister said: “I do think it’s going to take quite a bit of time at the UN General Assembly. And I think that’s really important, because it’s at a critical stage.
“Obviously, President Zelensky has a plan that he wants to walk through with all of us – we knew that was going to happen.
“The support for Ukraine is resolute. We supply quite a lot of capability already under the last government; we’ve increased that under this government – that’s not a criticism of the last government – and we will always listen very carefully to what Ukraine says it needs by way of capability.”
What does the union’s vote to reverse fuel winter allowance cuts mean for Starmer?
09:20
Salma Ouaguira
Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will attempt to put forward a motion to reverse the winter fuel allowance cut.
Delegates and Labour members are all expected to vote on the controversial measure this morning.
But the motion at the Labour Party conference is non-binding, and Downing Street is not required to respond.
However, the vote represents a major division within the party with Sir Keir Starmer facing further pressure to make a U-turn on the policy.
Keir Starmer insists ‘you can’t pay for a ticket in the director’s box'
09:03
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has further clarified the row over the amount of gifts and hospitality he received as prime minister.
According to data unveiled by Sky News, the PM accepted gifts with a total value of around £107,000.
Speaking to LBC, he chose to defend accepting donations for Arsenal football tickets, saying: “I’ve got season tickets for the Arsenal. I go with my son. We’ve had them for a long time.
“It’s one of the great pleasures of my life to take my boy to see football. Because of the security arrangements now, it simply isn’t possible for me to sit in the stands with my son.”
He added: “The club said, ‘Well, why don’t you be our guests in the director’s box?’
“Now, people say, ‘well, why don’t you pay for that?’ You can’t pay for a ticket in the director’s box.
“If you look at a picture of Rishi Sunak, all around him you will see people in pretty smart clothing. Some of those I know they’re his security team.
“And I don’t know about Southampton, but I do know that Arsenal, if the suggestion was made that some people be hoiked out of their season ticket seats, so that my security go in there, that would not be a popular move with fans for pretty obvious reasons.”
PM defends accepting freebies
08:55
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has been asked over the donor’s gift row which has seen politicians accepting free clothes, concert and football match tickets.
It comes as Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli is believed to have given multiple donations to senior party figures.
But the prime minister said clothing gifts were offered during the election campaign but refused to comment any further.
On the use of Lord Alli’s flat, he claimed it was a support given to his son to revise for his GCSEs.
Sir Keir added that he has always bought Arsenal tickets but, due to security concerns, the club asked him to become its guest in the director’s box.
What’s on the Labour Party conference schedule today?
08:55
Salma Ouaguira
Today is the final day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
After a busy day for the Sir Keir Starmer, m
