An emotional Angela Rayner told attendees at the Labour party conference that she gets “choked up” at the support she has received before she was given her second standing ovation of the event.
Ms Rayner said she gets “a bit choked up and emotional” about how far she has come to be deputy prime minister.
She was speaking at a fringe event on Saturday afternoon after giving her conference speech earlier in the day, receiving a standing ovation at the end of both.
Ms Rayner told the Local Government Association: “I wouldn’t be standing today as deputy prime minister without the nurture and the support that I had, both as a child through local government services, but then as a union rep and as a person who worked within local government.”
The deputy prime minister opened the conference earlier with an optimistic speech, sketching out her plans to tackle damp and mouldy homes, build more social housing, devolve more power out of Westminster and increase workers’ rights.
Meanwhile, foreign secretary David Lammy used his speech to proclaimed “Britain is back” on the world stage after a decade of Tory government.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting throughout the week from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Key Points
- Angela Rayner gets ‘choked up’ as she says she would not be deputy PM without the support she has received
- Analysis: Rayner gives Labour members some much needed socialist optimism
- Foreign secretary David Lammy: ‘Britain is back'
- Angela Rayner defends Labour against freebie allegations
- Sir Keir facing criticism over Spurs football freebie
- Bridget Phillipson defends 40th birthday ‘work event’ paid for by donor
Lord Alli ‘set to attend Labour conference’ amid donations row
19:00
Tara Cobham
Lord Waheed Alli is reportedly set to attend the Labour conference amid a row about his donations to senior figures in the party.
The Telegraph reported the Labour peer, who has given tens of thousands of pounds worth of clothing to the prime minister and his wife Victoria, was spotted at an event in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Sir Keir recently faced criticism after it emerged he was late to declare a donation from Lord Alli, although there is no suggestion the peer has done anything wrong.
Labour ministers ‘could be referred for potential Gaza war crimes complicity’
18:48
Tara Cobham
Labour Government ministers could be referred to police for potential complicity in war crimes in Gaza, the head of a Palestinian rights group has said.
Tayab Ali is chairman of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who aim to protect the rights of Palestinians through the law.
Mr Ali, who is also head of international law at London law firm Bindmans LLP, told a fringe event at the Labour Party conference that he will add Labour ministers to a list the organisation has already sent to Scotland Yard in relation to arming Israel.
Earlier this year the ICJP handed evidence to Scotland Yard in relation to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza under applicable UK legislation.
Evidence was provided in relation to senior UK politicians, who have remained anonymous, but Mr Ali said the names of five Conservative former ministers had been supplied.
Labour MP for Brent West Barry Gardiner attended the fringe event and asked the panel about “the ramifications of complicity by the UK Government”.
Mr Ali said their case against the previous government had been based on article 25 of the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which outlines individual criminal responsibility for war crimes.
He said: “What’s really important about that? Because when you talk about the ICC, it sounds like a foreign institution, but the Rome statute is incorporated in British law, so it makes it a crime here in the UK to be complicit in the same way.”
Ian Murray says he does not have £150m ‘war chest’
18:11
Tara Cobham
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has said he does not have a £150 million “war chest” to tackle poverty in Scotland.
Mr Murray dismissed reports that the Scotland Office would be allocated such funds for anti-poverty measures.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, the MP said the Scotland Office has four priorities which he described as growth, green issues, Brand Scotland and poverty.
He was asked whether he would use some of the £150 million reportedly allocated to his office to help pensioners affected by the cut to the winter fuel payment, which the UK Government is withdrawing from millions of pensioner households across the country who are not in receipt of benefits.
Mr Murray dismissed the figure which has been reported in the media, saying it was “made up” and did not come from him.
He said: “I don’t have a £150 million pound war chest.”
He added: “My key priority is to get the process of the Scotland Office being a spending department, to get all those structural funds that was in our manifesto together in terms of making sure that the Scotland Office can spend some money that’s already being spent in Scotland on that growth, green brand and poverty.
“But I don’t have a £150 million war chest.”
Labour faces conference fight over winter fuel as unions push for U-turn
17:46
Tara Cobham
The Labour leadership faces a conference battle over cuts to winter fuel payments as trade unions push for the policy to be reversed.
Delegates to the party’s annual conference in Liverpool are expected to debate Labour’s economic plans on Monday, with the decision to remove winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners set to feature.
The exact wording of the motion delegates will vote on will be determined on Sunday night, but trade unions Unite and the Communication Workers Union have put forward proposals calling for the policy to be scrapped.
Unite has already unveiled billboards around Liverpool with the slogan “Defend the winter fuel payment” and plans to stage a demonstration outside the conference centre ahead of the debate on Monday.
The union’s general secretary Sharon Graham described the policy as “cruel” and a “mis-step”, while Matt Wrack, the head of the Fire Brigades Union, said it was a “politically inept” decision that would “haunt” the Government for years.
Restricting winter fuel payments to only the poorest pensioners has put the Government at odds with the unions as Chancellor Rachel Reeves attempts to fill what she claims is a £22 billion “black hole” in this year’s budget left by the Conservatives.
But Tory shadow ministers insist there was no “black hole” and the Government is merely preparing the ground for tax rises when Ms Reeves announces her first Budget on 30 October.
Both the Unite and CWU motions include call for the winter fuel payments to be restored to all pensioners, but address wider economic policy as well.
Unite’s motion calls for a wealth tax on the richest 1 per cent of people and other changes to the tax regime that the Government has so far been keen to avoid.
Both unions also called for reform of the Government’s fiscal rules to allow more borrowing to invest in public services and infrastructure, something the Chancellor has also faced pressure to do in order to kickstart economic growth.
But Ms Reeves has been adamant that her fiscal rules are non-negotiable, saying she must demonstrate tight control over the public finances.
Social care problems adding to worst crisis in history of NHS – Wes Streeting
17:41
Tara Cobham
Problems with social care are “clogging up” hospitals, adding to an “existential” crisis for the NHS, Wes Streeting has said.
But the Health Secretary indicated fundamental reform of the social care system – and the crucial issue of how to pay for it – would have to wait until the second term of a Labour government.
Mr Streeting said his immediate priority was stabilising the social care service and making sure it was working properly with the NHS.
David Hughes reports:
Sir Keir Starmer accused of ‘embracing’ anti-migrant rhetoric
17:20
Tara Cobham
Sir Keir Starmer’s government has been accused of having “embraced” anti-migrant rhetoric by a former member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Speaking at an event on the fringes of the Labour conference in Liverpool on Sunday, Mish Rahman said the government has “thrown its own fuel” onto Islamophobia and racism in the UK, adding that the far-right riots which rocked England and Northern Ireland in August “were inevitable under this climate”.
At the same event, Diane Abbott warned that a renewed “austerity drive” would bring an increase in racism with ethnic minorities “bearing the brunt of the government’s attacks”.
Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Labour urged to act like a ‘majestic flock of geese’
17:15
Tara Cobham
Labour needs to act like a “majestic flock of geese” to make the most of its time in Government, according to the party’s outgoing general secretary.
David Evans said the party has spent too much time acting like a “gaggle on the ground” rather than forming the “magnificent V-formation” associated with a team of flying geese.
But he urged party members to “break this cycle” and work to ensure the Government “never loses touch with the voters” following Labour’s general election victory.
Mr Evans’ remarks at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool came before delegates ratified the appointment of Hollie Ridley as the new general secretary.
Angela Rayner gets ‘choked up’ as she says she would not be deputy PM without the support she has received
16:53
Kate Devlin
Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin is reporting from a fringe event where Angela Rayner has been greeted with two standing ovations:
Angela Rayner has said she gets “choked up” and said she would not be deputy PM without the support she has received.
She told the Local Government Association: “I genuinely get a bit choked up and emotional about it.”
She added: “I wouldn’t be standing today as deputy Prime Minister without the nurture and the support that I had, both as a child through local government services, but then as a union rep and as a person who worked within local government.”
She told local councillors she would be their advocate in government: “I would not be the person I am today without the love and affection you gave me and I will always be there to give you that love and affection back”.
Ms Rayner received a standing ovation at the end of her speech.
Ms Rayner had appeared tearful as she took to the stage to give her conference speech earlier today.
Day one at Labour party conference in pictures
16:34
Holly Bancroft
Labour party conference has kicked off in Liverpool, with ministers setting out their visions for government.
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner was tearful as she took to the stage to a standing ovation, saying it was the “honour of my life” to serve in government. Foreign secretary David Lammy tried to emphasise the optimism of a Labour government, telling attendees that “Britain is back” on the world stage.
Here is a look at the first day in photos:
Standing ovation for Angela Rayner at Labour conference
16:18
Holly Bancroft
Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin is listening in to Angela Rayner address a fringe event at Labour conference:
There was a standing ovation for Angela Rayner at the Local Government Association rally at Labour conference.She joked “hopefully it is not all downhill from here”.
Earlier in the day, Ms Rayner had addressed the main hall with her plans to kick start house building and ensure decent standards in social and private rented homes.
Lammy reiterates commitment to two-state solution between Israel and Palestine
16:16
Holly Bancroft
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said an “immediate ceasefire” is required between Israel and Hezbollah following a “worrying escalation”.
Mr Lammy said the ongoing hostilities are in “nobody’s interest” as he also advised British nationals in Lebanon to “leave now”.
Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Kassem, speaking on Sunday, said his group is now in an open-ended battle of reckoning with Israel.
His comments came after a wave of explosions hit pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members, killing at least 37 people - including two children - and wounding about 3,000.
The attacks are widely believed to have been carried out by Israel, although Israeli president Isaac Herzog said he “rejects out of hand any connection” to the operation against Hezbollah.
Mr Lammy, speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, spoke of the new government’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict before turning to Lebanon.
He said: “We have never lost sight of the end goal: an irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.
“I believe in the right of Israel to be safe and secure. I also believe in the justness of the Palestinian cause.
“It is only once Palestinians and Israelis have the same fundamental rights - sovereignty, security and dignity in their own independent, recognised states - that we can achieve a just and lasting peace for all.
“In recent days, we have seen worrying escalation between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah. This is in nobody’s interest.
“Our message to all parties is clear: we need an immediate ceasefire from both sides so that we can get to a political settlement.
“So that Israelis and Lebanese civilians can return to their homes and live in peace and security.
“And to British nationals still in Lebanon, let me be very clear: for your own safety, leave now.”
Sue Gray to miss Labour conference - reports
16:01
Holly Bancroft
Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray is set to skip Labour’s party conference in Liverpool, according to a report in The Telegraph.
Ms Gray has been the topic of headlines this week after it emerged she was paid more than the prime minister. A Downing Street source confirmed to the paper that Ms Gray would not be attending the conference, which runs from Sunday till Wednesday.
Passengers are being priced off trains, union leaders warn
15:40
Holly Bancroft
Passengers are being priced off the railways while private operators continue to make huge profits, union leaders have said.
Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), and Mick Whelan, of Aslef, said the answer to lower fares had to start with renationalising train companies.
Mr Whelan told a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool: “People are being priced off the railway. We don’t have a turn up and go railway. If you haven’t booked a ticket three months ahead you don’t bother going.”
He said a start would be to stop money being “drained” out of the industry by profits being given to shareholders.
Mr Lynch said train companies and previous Conservative governments had “ripped off” the public because of privatisation.
“Billions of pounds have been leeched out of the industry into dividends or state-owned railways in Europe,” he told the meeting.
Both union leaders welcomed the government’s plans to take rail companies back into public ownership, saying it should be the start of having an affordable, safe, integrated railway.
Climate conscious Labour delights conference goers with refillable coffee cups
15:21
Kate Devlin
Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin is on the scene in Liverpool and has a good news update from the conference centre:
Alongside the infighting, and pre-Budget doom and gloom, one innovation is delighting Labour conference go-ers this year.
The party is back in the same Liverpool venue it has used for a few years.
But for the first time - there are refillable coffee cups, with free refills.
Labour conferences have traditionally been caffeine-fuelled, but this year, it seems, will be even more so than usual.
15:10
Holly Bancroft
David Lammy issued a message to Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: “We need to show Putin that Britain and its allies are not going anywhere.”
He added: “This Labour government will always stand with [the Ukrainian] people. We need to send another message to Vladimir Putin - your interference in our democracy, promoting disinformation and disorder on our streets, encouraging cleptocrats to store their ill-gotten gains in our property market must end.”
Foreign secretary David Lammy: ‘Britain is back'
14:28
Holly Bancroft
Foreign secretary David Lammy has proclaimed “Britain is back” on the world stage after over a decade of Tory leadership.
Mr Lammy told members: “On my first weekend as foreign secretary, when I travelled to Germany, Poland and Sweden in less than 48 hours, I was proud to say Britain is back.”
“When Keir Starmer and my good friend John Healey flew to Washington a few days later...we were proud to say Britain is back.”
“When restored the funding to UNRWA for their work in Gaza, what did we say conference?” Mr Lammy asked. “Britain is back,” he and a number of conference members replied in an attempt at audience interaction.
“When we stood up for international law, when it was not easy, what did we say? Britain is back”, he continued.
“Unlike the Tories, we understand that Britain needs to work with its neighbours to flourish”, he said.
He has promised to “restore Britain’s climate leadership” along with energy secretary Ed Milliband. Mr Lammy said onshore wind will be accelerated because “climate matters”.
“My job is to tell a new story about the United Kingdom abroad. A story of openness, a story of the future, a story of hope, that will reconnect Britain with the world once and for all.
“Conference when I stood in this room last year, I said we had a once in a generation chance to get Britain’s future back,” Mr Lammy continued.
14:20
Holly Bancroft
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom Valerii Zaluzhnyi is giving a surprise speech at Labour conference.
He has thanked the prime minister and foreign secretary for their support, adding: “The Labour Party has a proud history of fighting fascism”.
He spoke about the necessity of Ukraine’s “fast-track” membership to the Nato security alliance.
14:13
Holly Bancroft
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell has defended the conduct of Labour MPs saying they should not be painted as the same as the Tories.
Despite an ongoing row over Labour ministers accepting freebies for clothes and hospitality, Ms Powell defended the government’s record so far.
In a speech to members in Liverpool, she said: “Our drive to a government of service is so important. Rebuilding trust and delivering what we said we would. Let’s be honest conference, some want to paint a picture that nothing will change, that we are all the same - I totally refute that.
“Don’t let anyone tell you conference we are the same because we are not”.
14:07
Holly Bancroft
Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones is speaking to Labour members in Liverpool.
He said that “there is no magic wand” in Downing Street and warned that “difficult decisions” were required in government.
He described chancellor Rachel Reeves as a “woman who will put rocket boosters under the economy”.
Next up to speak is leader of the Commons Lucy Powell.
David Lammy opens door to further sanctions over West Bank violence
14:03
Holly Bancroft
David Lammy has insisted imposing a full arms embargo on Israel would be a “mistake” but left the door open to further sanctions over settler violence in the West Bank.
The foreign secretary suggested suspending export licences that could be used by Israel against Houthi rebels and other proxies in the region would lead to a “wider war”.
But speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event on Sunday, he said he was in talks with G7 allies about responding to “deeply” concerning “escalatory behaviour” in the occupied region.
“I’m deeply, deeply worried by the growing violence and settler violence that we see in the West Bank,” Mr Lammy said.
“I’m in discussions with G7 partners, particular European partners on that. I’m not announcing further sanctions today, but that is kept under close review.”
‘Time to make new history’, says Pat McFadden in conference address
13:53
Alex Croft
Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told the conference that this is a “successful and powerful political Labour party”.
He pointed out their success in seats which for decades had been Tory strongholds.
He described the government’s five missions - economic growth, clean power, cutting NHS waiting lists, safer streets, and better opportunities for every child - as “Labour goals, Labour values”.
“This is the change that we need,” McFadden added in the address. The government will make “lasting change” and “new history”.
Prime Minister commends Angela Rayner’s opening speech
13:28
Alex Croft
Brilliant to watch @AngelaRayner deliver her first speech at Labour Party Conference as Deputy Prime Minister.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 22, 2024
We will build the housing our country needs, delivering decent, affordable homes for all. pic.twitter.com/mCimoMZeXy
Labour and Just Stop Oil donor Dale Vince to call for tougher climate policy
13:24
Alex Croft
Labour and Just Stop Oil donor Dale Vince will call for the government to be more radical in their climate policy.
The Ecotricity owner, who also owns Forest Green Rovers, will back the Climate and Nature Bill, a proposed bill which would force Labour to meet climate targets.
The bill has been introduced in multiple parliaments but has never progressed into law.
Energy minister Alex Sobel, who will attend the event with Mr Vince, championed the bill while in opposition.
Mr Vince told PA: "If we're serious about tackling the biggest threat we face, climate breakdown and nature's destruction, we need the right laws to guide us, and we need them fast.
"Let's be real, we've got a small window left and the next five years are make or break. That's where the Climate and Nature Bill comes in.
"It's the only thing out there that tackles the twin crises of climate and biodiversity at the same time."
What’s coming up this afternoon?
13:16
Alex Croft
Foreign Secretary David Lammy will take to stage later this afternoon at 14:30, after a morning discussing the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He will follow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell, due to speak at 2pm and 2:05pm respectively.
At 3pm, Wes Streeting will attend a Unison/Fabian Society fringe meeting on health and social care.
Mr Streeting will later be joined by Andy Burnham and Stephen Kinnock at the Future Social Care Coalition rally from 4pm.
Full report: Angela Rayner strikes emotional chord with Labour members in tub-thumping conference speech amid gifts scandal
13:03
David Maddox
Angela Rayner may have floundered on the BBC this morning while talking about gifts from wealthy donors but her opening speech to the Labour conference injected some life into what was threatening to be a despondent affair.
The dark clouds gathering over Liverpool as activists arrived today seemed symbolic of a sense of foreboding about the state of the new Labour government.
The party is still less than three months on from the exhilaration of that massive election victory over the Tories.
Read the full report from our Political Editor David Maddox here:
David Lammy states ‘deep concern’ regarding events in West Bank at fringe event
12:49
Alex Croft
David Lammy has expressed his concern about violence in the West Bank at a fringe event at the Labour Party conference.
The foreign secretary said he is “deeply, deeply concerned” by recent violence during Israeli raids, and has not ruled out sanctions for those involved in “escalatory behaviour”.
"I’m not announcing further sanctions today but that is kept under close review," he told a Labour Together event.
"As you would expect, I’m deeply, deeply concerned by what I’ve seen at this point in time."
Israeli troops were seen to push three apparently lifeless Palestinian bodies from rooftops during a recent raid.
Rayner promises ‘historic’ workers' legislation to be introduced next month
12:21
Holly Bancroft
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Liverpool:
Angela Rayner has confirmed that Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, which will seek to boost wages and employment rights, will be introduced next month.
She told the Labour Party conference that “insecurity at work is the daily reality for so many”, saying the country is now “on the verge of historic legislation to make work more secure”.
The bill will include measures such as banning zero-hour contracts and outlawing fire and rehire tactics, as well as making parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal available from the first day on the job.
Speaking on the main stage at the party’s annual conference in Liverpool, to loud applause from the audience, the deputy prime minister said: “They said we couldn’t do it, some tried to stop it in its tracks.
“But after years of opposition, we are on the verge of historic legislation to make work more secure, make it more family friendly, go further and faster to close the gender pay gap, ensure rights are enforced and trade unions are strengthened.”
She added: “Conference, this is our plan to make work pay and it’s coming to a workplace near you.”
Analysis: Angela Rayner gives Labour members some much needed socialist optimism
12:04
Alex Croft
Our political editor David Maddox offers his analysis from Labour party conference:
Angela Rayner may have floundered on the BBC this morning talking about gifts and ministers being on the take from wealthy donors and friends but her opening speech to conference has injected some early life into what was threatening to be a despondent affair.
The whole event should be a celebration of a historic victory for the party but was being overshadowed by rows about Sue Gray, Lord Alli, football tickets, holidays in New York and clothes for the prime minister’s wife.
There is a concern among unions and people on the left that Starmer is also leading them to a new age of austerity after the winter fuel payments were removed from 10 million pensioners and Rachel Reeves has been getting ready to wield the axe to sort out the £22bn black hole in public finances.
So it was important that Rayner came out from the get-go with a robust, tub thumping speech.
She has delivered in spades, with joy about the victory, and a succession of much needed reforms that the left have been clamouring for - whether it be workers’ rights or renters reform or building much needed homes.
The cheers which greeted her speech certainly spoke of the way she delivered her much more optimistic message. A contract to the gloom that has been hanging over Sir Keir Starmer and evidence of the emotional chord between her and members.
11:58
Holly Bancroft
Ms Rayner is speaking about her plans to give more power to mayors around the country and devolve power from Westminster.
“A new white paper will map out how we will move power out of Whitehall... Just this week I agreed eight devolution deals,” she explained.
She promised that “Northerners will no longer be dictated to from Whitehall”. She said this government will achieve devolution in the North and the change will be “irreversible”.
Rayner: We will clamp down on damp and mouldy homes
11:53
Holly Bancroft
Angela Rayner has spoken about her mission that all homes are decent and safe.
“When I was growing up we didn’t have a lot, but we had a safe and secure home. But today not everyone does”, Ms Rayner told the Labour conference.
Speaking about the Grenfell tragedy, she said it was a failure of market and state. “It is completely unacceptable that we have thousands of building still wrapped in dangerous cladding seven years after Grenfell”, she continued.
She has also said that she will reverse the decline of social home building. Ms Rayner said that she will “clamp down on damp and mouldy homes” by bringing in legislation to force landlords to fix faults, in social housing and private rental accommodation.
‘Don’t forget what the Conservatives did’, warns Rayner
11:49
Millie Cooke
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke writes from Liverpool:
Angela Rayner urged people not to forget what the Conservative Party did in government during her main stage speech at the Labour Party conference.
Accusing the Tories of having “failed Britain” and attempting to “cover it up”, the deputy prime minister said there will be “no complacency” from the new government.
Ms Rayner, who was greeted by a standing ovation when she walked on stage, appeared to be on the verge of tears at the start of her speech.
Opening her address, she said: “I’ll try not to get too emotional. Twelve months ago, I stood here and said I’d hope to never open conference again as the deputy leader of the opposition, so it’s a great honour of my life to stand here today as your deputy prime minister.”
Ms Rayner continued: “We won because we had the courage to change our party, the discipline to make hard decisions and the determination to remain united, and now change begins.
“Even now, especially now, there will be no complacency. We’ve seen where that leads. Don’t forget what they did: Partygate, Covid contracts, the lies, division, scapegoating and the unfunded tax cuts for the richest that crashed our economy. don’t. forget any of it.
“The Tories failed Britain and they tried to cover it up.”
Emotional Angela Rayner starts speech at Labour conference
11:39
Holly Bancroft
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner was emotional as she took to the stage at Labour party conference for her speech.
She looked tearful as members gave her a standing ovation, and told attendees: “It is the honour of my life to stand here today as your deputy prime minister.”
“You entrusted us with the task of change and we will not forget it,” she said in a direct to the British people.
Ms Rayner has said “there will be no complacency” for the new Labour government. “The Tories failed Britain and they tried to cover it up. A crater in the heart of Britain’s economy...and a £22bn black hole”, she said.
Labour faces ‘the worst inheritance of any incoming government in living memory’, says Ellie Reeves
11:27
Millie Cooke
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke writes from Liverpool:
Ellie Reeves has claimed that the Labour government is facing the “worst inheritance of any incoming government in living memory”.
She echoed warnings from other senior cabinet ministers that tough choices will have to be made in the coming weeks, in what is seen as an attempt to prepare the public for tax rises and cuts to public services at next month’s budget.
The chair of the Labour Party also promised the government would be the “most radical and transformation government in history.”
Speaking on the main stage of Labour conference, she said: “This is the worst inheritance of any incoming government in living memory.
“It will be hard and there will be tough choices, and if we don’t take tough choices. If we shirk our responsibility to the public finances, the British people will never forgive us.
“But do not believe the naysayers, do not fall for their tricks. In the last eleven weeks that we have been in government we have already begun the change, setting up GB Energy, establishing a child poverty task force, reform of the House of Lords, ending the ban on onshore wind, beginning work to return rail to public ownership.
“And by the end of this Parliament we will have witnessed the most radical and transformational government in history.”
When is Angela Rayner due to speak at Labour conference?
11:11
Holly Bancroft
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is due to take to the stage at Labour conference at 11.25am.
In the first speech by a cabinet minister at the conference, Ms Rayner will focus on the government’s plans for house building.
In comments ahead of the speech, Ms Rayner said Labour have “inherited a Tory housing crisis” and that her government will take “a wave of bold action to not only build the housing our country needs and boost social and affordable housing, but to ensure all homes are decent, safe and warm”.
She will announce that the government will consult on a new Decent Homes Standard for social and private renters.
Labour will also press ahead with Tory legislation, known as Awaab’s law, which sets timescales for social landlords to remedy problems such as damp and mould.
Rayner: New law to boost workers’ rights will be introduced next month
11:03
Holly Bancroft
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said the government would introduce new legislation intended to give workers more rights next month.
The government is trying to balance demands from trade unions, who traditionally fund the governing Labour Party, and business leaders, who are concerned about some of the changes.
The Employment Rights Bill will include measures such as prohibiting zero-hour contracts, with about 1 million people in Britain on employment contracts that do not specify a minimum number of hours they can work and pay only for the hours they are on shift, and outlawing fire and rehire tactics.
Labour has also pledged to make parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal available from the first day on the job, although probation periods would remain in place.
“We’ll be putting the legislation forward next month,” Rayner told the BBC. “People will see better workers’ rights, the most improved workers’ rights for a generation.”
The government has promised to produce legislation within 100 days of the July national election. Some businesses say it is unclear what the government is planning.
Rachel Reeves says workers benefit from being in the office
10:45
Holly Bancroft
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that workers benefit from coming into the office and working together.
When asked about working from home in an interview with The Times, Ms Reeves said: “I think I lead by example. The first weekend after Labour won the election, I turned up in the Treasury straight after I was appointed by Keir as chancellor and worked through the evening.
“Then we were all in the office all day Saturday, all day Sunday. We weren’t doing it on Zoom... I do think people coming together and working together collaboratively promotes ideas.”
Rachel Reeves explains clothes donation as help from a good friend during election campaign
10:27
Holly Bancroft
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has explained why she accepted donations for clothes in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Ms Reeves had accepted £7,500 from a donor, Juliet Rosenfield, for clothes. She said she accepted the donation from a “good friend” who wanted to make sure that she looked professional during the election campaign.
She said: “I know for some readers that will sound a bit odd, and I totally get that. It’s not something that I plan to do now we’re in government. But it was how a friend wanted to help me in the election and I really appreciated that, as I am not massively into clothes and shopping.”
Speaking ahead of Labour conference, Ms Reeves said she wanted to “bring stability back” to the UK and “create the environment where businesses invest”.
She said businesses had nothing to fear from Labour’s push to strengthen workers’ rights. “We have been, and will continue to, consult extensively with businesses on them. We said that we’re going to be the most pro-growth government ever, but we believe being pro-business and pro-worker are two sides of the same coin.”
10:18
Holly Bancroft
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has been forced to defend using a Labour peer’s donation money to have a 40th birthday party.
Ms Phillipson said that the 40th birthday event was a work event and was not a personal occasion.
She described the event, saying: “I was turning 40, I tho
