Five takeaways from Keir Starmer's conference speech

Five takeaways from Keir Starmer's conference speech

During Labour’s conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir Starmer delivered a keynote speech to invigorate his party and outline his vision for the country. Throughout his address, Starmer made a clear emphasis on the need to confront Reform UK, the leading party in UK-wide opinion polls. He presented this battle as a crucial test for the nation, stating that it was a choice between “renewal or decline”. Starmer directly named Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, as a key opponent in this fight, rather than focusing on the traditional rival, the Conservatives.

Addressing the issue of migration, Starmer acknowledged the discomfort some Labour MPs felt regarding the home secretary’s plans to make it more challenging for migrants to obtain permanent settlement status in the UK. He cited past instances where the party had placed too much trust in globalization and immigration as a solution to workforce needs, leading to a disconnect with working people. Starmer highlighted a personal encounter with a woman in Oldham to illustrate the party’s need to change to better represent and understand the concerns of the working class.

In a strategic move, Starmer announced a policy shift in education, indicating that the UK government would no longer adhere to the target of sending 50% of England’s young people to university. Instead, he proposed a new goal of having two-thirds of young individuals attend university or pursue “gold standard apprenticeships”. This shift aimed to address social mobility and skills training, particularly emphasizing the importance of further education colleges that have often been overlooked by politicians.

Touching on the topic of patriotism and national identity, Starmer positioned Labour as a party of national renewal and patriotism. He reiterated the party’s commitment to serving the common good and highlighted the contributions of ordinary citizens across the UK. Starmer emphasized that patriotism should be about unity and service to the nation, rejecting the narrative that Britain is broken. Looking ahead to tough decisions in the upcoming Budget, Starmer reflected on the challenges faced during the last Budget, emphasizing the need for responsible economic decisions to ensure that working people do not bear the brunt of fiscal mismanagement

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