The key moments of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour conference speech
Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his first Labour conference speech as prime minister, where he declared: “Change has begun”.
The prime minister gave his speech against the backdrop of a gloomy economic picture and deteriorating public services.
While Sir Keir’s speech was heavy on rhetoric and light on policy – due to the constraints the government believes it has over spending – there were a few key moments that stood out. Sky News takes you through them.
Hillsborough law to be introduced before April
Leading Sir Keir’s speech is a promise he made previously about bringing in a Hillsborough law – something he called a “law for Liverpool” in recognition of the 97 people who died at the fatal crush in Sheffield in April 1989.
The law would create a legal “duty of candour” on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and proactively cooperate with official investigations and inquiries.
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‘Hillsborough Law will be introduced before April’
Sir Keir said people “should never have needed to fight so hard to get” the policy but insisted it “will be delivered” by Labour.
Politics latest: ‘Every pensioner will be better off,’ claims PM
He said the law would not only help deliver justice for Hillsborough families but also the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal, the infected blood scandal, the Windrush scandal and the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
He said Hillsborough Law will include criminal sanctions and be introduced to parliament before the next anniversary in April.
Sausages slip up
Addressing the escalating conflict in Lebanon – where authorities say 558 people have been killed by Israeli strikes – Sir Keir urged both sides to exercise “restraint” and focus on “de-escalation at the border”.
The prime minister told the audience: “I call again for restraint and de-escalation at the border between Lebanon and Israel. Again, all parties to pull back from the brink.”
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PM calls for ‘return of the sausages’ in Gaza
But in an apparent slip of the tongue, Sir Keir repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as the “return of the sausages” – which he quickly corrected to the “hostages” taken by Hamas.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to the two-state solution, with a “recognised Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel”.
He said he would take the same message to the UN General Assembly in New York, which he will be attending tomorrow.
Homes for heroes
Another key moment in the speech came when Sir Keir pledged to “house all veterans in need” as a means to “repay those who served us”.
The prime minister said there was an “injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets, in every town and city in this country”.
He described the nation’s veterans as “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,” he added.
Defence of winter fuel cut
Much of this year’s conference has been dominated by the government’s controversial decision to scrap winter fuel payments for the majority of pensioners.
The criticism has been even more stinging in light of the row over Sir Keir and other cabinet ministers accepting a number of freebies and perks from companies and donors.
But Sir Keir was resolute in his speech that the move was the right thing to do and attempted to reassure those who may fear they will not be able to heat their homes this winter.
“I understand many of the decisions we must take will be unpopular,” he told the audience.
“If they were popular, they’d be easy, but the cost of filling that black hole in our public finances, that will be shared fairly.”
He continued: “If you can’t take that on faith, perhaps because you’re concerned about the winter fuel allowance, then I get that.
“Stabilising our economy is the first step of this long-term plan, the only way we keep prices low, cut NHS waiting lists, and secure the triple lock so that every pensioner in this country, every pensioner, will be better off with Labour.”
PM delivers strong message to rioters
Migration – historically a tricky area for Labour – also featured in Sir Keir’s speech, where he said he has “always accepted” that concerns about it are “legitimate”.
But he said the debate cannot and should not be about the “worth of migrants” but about the “control of migration”.
He argued that those who were involved in the riots in the summer were not the same people who had legitimate concerns about migration.
“No, people concerned about immigration were not doing that because they understand that this country, this democratic country, is built on the rule of law, the ballot box, the common understanding that we debate our differences,” he said.
“We do not settle them with violent thuggery, and that racism is vile, so to those of you who equivocate about this, I simply say: the country sees you and it rejects you.”
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Heckler tackles Sir Keir over Gaza
Towards the end of the prime minister’s speech, a heckler, later identified as 18-year-old Labour member Daniel Riley, confronted Sir Keir over the government’s stance on the Middle East.
The protester could be heard shouting about “the children of Gaza”.
The prime minister responded by telling the audience: “This guy’s obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference” – a reference to how the party has changed under his leadership.
He adds: “While he’s been protesting, we’ve been changing the party. That’s why we’ve got a Labour government.”
Criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings will face further punishment under a new law.
The government is introducing the Victims and Courts Bill to parliament today, which will include more jail time or loss of privileges in prison in England and Wales for criminals who refuse to attend court for sentencing.
Several high-profile offenders have refused to face victims’ families, sparking a public outcry and calls for a change in the law.
The families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Jan Mustafa have all campaigned for the change after their killers were absent from sentencing hearings.
Ms Nessa’s sister, Jebina Islam, Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, and Ms Mustafa’s cousin, Ayse Hussein, said: “This move holds offenders to account.
“It sends a clear and necessary message: the justice system is not something you should be able to opt out of.
“It is not about punishment through force – but about ensuring that perpetrators cannot remove themselves from the consequences of their actions.”
Teacher Sabina Nessa was killed by Koci Selamaj in 2021 after he drove to London to assault a stranger
They said the legislation is a “step in the right direction” and the proposed punishments indicate it is “being taken seriously”.
The trio added: “This change supports victims and society alike. It shows justice being done.
“It gives families a moment of recognition and a form of reparation. It is a moment of reckoning for the convicted.”
Under the new legislation, judges will be able to sentence offenders for up to two more years in prison for avoiding justice.
Those already facing lengthy imprisonment or whole life orders could have a range of prison punishments, such as confinement to their cells and being stripped of privileges, such as extra gym time.
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Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak had pledged to change the law after meeting the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Sir Keir Starmer promised to enact it.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed by Thomas Cashman, who refused to attend his sentencing hearing in 2023
Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia as he chased a drug dealer who had run into her Liverpool home, did not appear in court to hear his life sentence in April 2023.
Earlier this year, triple crossbow and knife killer Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing when he received a whole life order.
Southport child murderer Axel Rudakubana was removed from his sentencing hearing for repeatedly shouting in January.
Teacher Sabina Nessa was killed by Koci Selamaj in 2021 after he drove to London to assault a stranger
Zara Aleena was killed by Jordan McSweeney, who should have been recalled to prison at the time. Pic: PA
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: “I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing.
“Justice isn’t optional – we’ll make sure criminals face their victims.”
The bill also says it will restrict parental responsibility from child sex offenders who commit serious crimes against their own children.
The powers of the Victims’ Commissioner will also be strengthened to require them to produce an independent report on whether agencies are meeting their statutory duty over the Victim’s Code to hold the government to account.
Child protection charity the NSPCC backed the move, saying they hope it will improve how young victims and survivors are treated, but said it was “not a complete solution”.
Eighteen-year-olds will be allowed to drive trains due to concerns over labour shortages, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced.
The current minimum age for someone wanting a career on the railways is 20.
But with 87% of night-before cancellations made because a driver is unavailable, the government has decided to lower the age of entry by a couple of years.
Several operators rely on drivers to work extra shifts voluntarily.
At present, the average age of a British train driver is 48, while 30% are due to reach retirement age by 2029.
A consultation on lowering the minimum age for drivers, carried out last year by the Conservative government, received “overwhelming support from across the industry”, the DfT said.
Other nations which have lowered the age for train drivers are France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, officials added.
Transport for London opened driver apprenticeships on the Underground to 18-year-olds in 2007.
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Training to drive mainline trains generally takes between one and two years.
Assessment and qualification standards will be unchanged.
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Industry body the Rail Safety and Standards Board said its research had shown 18-year-olds are “capable of safely becoming train drivers”.
New job and apprenticeship opportunities could be available as early as December, the DfT said.
Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, said the government was “future-proofing” the railways against “delays and cancellations caused by a shortage of drivers”.
Mick Whelan, general secretary of train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “At the moment, young people who want to become train drivers leave school or college at 18, get other jobs, and we miss out as an industry as they don’t wait around until they turn 20 to find a career.”
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