Fuel payments MUST be cut – we can’t risk another economy meltdown, Keir Starmer insists
WINTER fuel payments must be cut because Britain cannot risk another economic meltdown, Sir Keir Starmer insisted today.
In his first party conference speech as PM, the Labour chief argued that keeping the £300 allowance would have led to a Liz Truss -style market meltdown.
Addressing hundreds of party faithful in Liverpool, Sir Keir acknowledged "concern" around his hated decision to slash the allowance.
But the defiant PM added: "There will be no stone left unturned.
"And no return to Tory austerity.
"We will rebuild our public services, protect working people, and do this in a Labour way. And that is a promise.
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"And if you can’t take that on faith, perhaps because you’re concerned about the winter fuel allowance, then I get that."
Analysis
By Ryan Sabey, The Sun's Deputy Political Editor
Sir Keir Starmer has endured a torrid few weeks in the job he has craved.
This was a reset moment that - for an hour or so at least - he could put the troubles of freebiegate and Sue Gray's saray behind him.
It was a greatest hits run out that will please many of those who voted for him for the first time.
Stronger borders as a priority and fixing the foundations of the economy are essential for the long-term benefit of the country.
But there may be some anger among Labour ranks when he spoke of plugging the £22 billion black hole.
It won't just fall on the shoulders of the better off in society as this is a "shared struggle", he said.
He even said - to coin a phrase - that "we are all in it together".
The decision to axe winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners is just one decision he didn't shy away from.
That brought about a few groans in the hall as ex-Tory Chancellor George Osborne echoed this phrase during the austerity years.
A crackdown on benefits and the welfare bill will be unveiled at the Budget and it won't be pretty.
This speech was setting the tone for the first phase of this Labour government.
Short-term pain for long-term gain.
Folks, it's time to buckle up.
The PM continued: "If this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.
"But the risk of showing to the world - as the Tories did - that this country does not fund its policies properly, that is a risk we can never take again.
"Stabilising our economy is the first step of this long-term plan."
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Fury at Sir Keir's decision to end winter fuel payments has engulfed Labour conference for three days.
Union chiefs accused the PM of a imposing a move that could kill OAPs.
And tomorrow conference delegates are set to vote on a motion to reverse the policy.
Veterans, care leavers and domestic abuse victims 'will be housed'
Veterans, young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse will be given a “guaranteed roof over their head”, Sir Keir Starmer has promised.
The Prime Minister pledged that “homes will be there for heroes” as he vowed to “house all veterans in housing need” across England.
He also said young care leavers and victims of domestic abuse “will have the security they deserve”, as he addressed issues around current requirements to have a local connection in order to get housing support in many areas.
The changes will mean all three groups will be exempt from local connection or residency tests which most councils have in place to determine who can qualify for social housing.
An historic day for Starmer and Labour
It's been an historic day for Labour, one Keir Starmer and his team have no doubt been dreaming of for years.
While it was light on policy, there were some notable announcements, not least an important update on the Hillsborough law (see post at 14.28), and the statement that GB Energy is to be headquartered in Aberdeen.
There was also a passionate attack from the PM on those who caused damage and brought fear to communities during the summer riots - perhaps the best part of his entire speech.
Will it be enough to move the narrative on from freebies and donations? Maybe ...
Credit: ALAMY 'People want respite and relief'
In today's speech, Starmer alluded to recent criticism of him and his finance minister Rachel Reeves that they are affecting economic growth and investment in Britain by being pessimistic about the state of the country.
Starmer has spent much of his first weeks in power blaming the Tories for leaving everything in a mess, from the public finances to prisons and the state-run National Health Service.
The Tories accuse him of scaremongering over the inheritance and of laying the groundwork for tax rises in the October 30 budget.
Starmer has already warned the budget will be "painful".
"I know that the cost-of-living crisis drew a veil over the joy and wonder in our lives and that people want respite and relief -- and may even have voted Labour for that reason," Starmer said this afternoon.
‘Homes for heroes’ – more details
Following the speech, Labour released a press briefing, stating: "Armed Forces veterans, young care leavers and domestic abuse victims will be able to apply for social housing in any local authority in the UK, for life, as part of a push to strengthen support for those who have served, and those most vulnerable - announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer today at the party’s first conference in government in 15 years.
Sir Keir Starmer said veteran homelessness is a scandal hiding “in plain sight” on Britain’s streets, during his speech.
He told the Labour conference: “There is another injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets, in every town and city in this country.
“People who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.
“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore. And so today Ic an announce that this Government will respect that service. We will repay those who served us, and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes.”
Starmer confirms GB Energy HQ will be based in Aberdeen
In his speech, Keir Starmer confirmed that the GB Energy HQ will be based in Aberdeen.
Labour had already said it would be in Scotland and, given Aberdeen is the energy capital of Scotland, it was expected to secure the GB Energy head office.
Starmer told delegates: "Today I can confirm that the future of British energy will be powered, as it has been for decades by the talent and skills of the working people in the Granite City with GB Energy based in Aberdeen."
'No easy answers' to fixing Britain
Keir Starmer said Britain must embark on a "shared struggle" and that he will resist "easy answers" during the nearly one-hour-long speech, the first at the conference by a Labour premier in 15 years.
But he also tried to inject some optimism, declaring that there is "light at the end of this tunnel".
After guiding the centre-left Labour party back to power for the first time since 2010, Starmer soon faced flak for scrapping payments to help the elderly pay for winter heating bills.
The buildup to the conference was also overshadowed by a row over gifts accepted by Starmer and other parliamentarians.
'This will be a long-term project' - Starmer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said fixing Britain after years of right-wing rule would be a "long-term project" during his first Labour party conference speech as the country's leader this afternoon.
Starmer, 62, rebutted criticism of some of his new government's first steps by insisting it was his "duty to the British people to face up to necessary decisions".
The Labour leader has faced growing calls to offer a more positive outlook for the country since ousting the Conservative party from government in a landslide election win in July.
Here’s what we learned from his speech
- A Hillsborough law is due to be in place by April next year.
- GB Energy HQ is to be located in Aberdeen.
- All veterans are to be rehoused under “home for heroes”.
- Conservative legacy is hammered – “it’s time to clear out the rot”.
- He can handle hecklers … but he still can’t tell jokes.
- … as a child he played the flute.
Heckler defends disrupting PM speech
Daniel Riley, 18, who heckled the Prime Minister in his speech at the Labour Party conference said he was moved to shout due Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the Middle East, PA is reporting.
He told reporters after being released by security: "Everyday we're still sending British bombs and British bullets that are being used in Lebanon and in Gaza right now and the Prime Minister - he could stop that, he could stop that right now but he doesn't.
"And he says that he wants things to stop but he won't lift a finger to actually stop it."
Asked if he had planned to disrupt the leader's speech, Mr Riley said: "No, I was a delegate, I'm a Labour Party member, I hoped I'd be one for life but I suspect not now."
Credit: GETTY
Bit of a banger ...
Many political commentators have picked up on the PM's "sausage" slip up while discussing the hostage crisis in Gaza (see post at 14.29).
'His admonishment of racist thuggery was passionate'
This from Westminster commentator, Zoë Grünewald:
'A barnstorming speech'
We'll bring you some reaction from social media to Keir Starmer's speech, this post praising the PM's segment defending culture for children.
In case you missed it ...
Here are the most memorable pics from the speech, including one of a heckler disrupting the PM, below.
Credit: GETTY 
Credit: REUTERS 
Credit: GETTY 
Credit: PA Here's what we learned from his speech
- A Hillsborough law is due to be in place by April next year.
- GB Energy HQ is to be located in Aberdeen.
- All veterans are to be rehoused under "home for heroes".
- Conservative legacy is hammered - "it's time to clear out the rot".
- He can handle hecklers ... but he still can't tell jokes.
- ... as a child he played the flute.
'We will clear out the Tory rot ... and rebuild Britain'
That's it from Keir Starmer, ending his first speech as PM. He's now being embraced by his wife, Victoria, as he walks off the stage.
Someone has just tried to heckle the PM
A delegate just stood up and started shouting at the PM but was quickly ushered away by security.
Starmer says: "This guy obviously has a pass from the 2019 conference …while he's been protesting, we've been changing the party".
He reveals he enjoyed playing the ... flute
... it'll be interesting to see where this goes.
Time for the personal segment ..
The PM is now reminiscing about his family holidays in the Lake District. We also get his first joke, but he's no Les Dawson either ...
'Taking back control is a Labour argument'
An unusual turn of phrase from Keir Starmer; he may be no orator in the Tony Blair mould - but he knows a popular phrase or two ...
'I will not let violent racist thugs terrorise our community'
Delegates are on their feet after the PM raised the summer riots during his speech.
It's all part of the segment surrounding immigration, with Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, looking rather pensive on the seats in front of him.
He goes on to say "racism is vile" to much applause from delegates, adding that rioters and people concerned about immigration are "not the same".
'That light at the end of the tunnel' - first mention
We've just heard the much-trumpeted phrase - 40 minutes in, with the usual lines around "no return to austerity" and people will be "better off with Labour".
To be fair to Starmer, he's at least trying to be positive. He's even trying to put a positive spin on the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners. Nothing much new there, though.
'Homes for heroes' - what the PM said
All veterans in need of housing will be found somewhere to live, the PM has promised
Sir Keir Starmer said veteran homelessness is a scandal hiding “in plain sight” on Britain's streets.
He told the Labour conference: "There is another injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets, in every town and city in this country.
“People who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.
“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore. And so today Ic an announce that this Government will respect that service. We will repay those who served us, and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes."
First pictures coming through from PM speech
Here are some of the first pics from Keir Starmer's speech in Liverpool this afternoon.
Credit: PA 
Credit: PA 
Credit: GETTY GB Energy HQ revealed
The government's green energy HQ is to be located in "the Great granite city" - Aberdeen.
'Homes for heroes'
PM promises all veterans will be rehoused - not much more detail, though.