Keir Starmer’s first conference speech as Prime Minister neatly embodied the past three days in Liverpool: patchy, uninspiring, with a strong finish and the promise of better tidings tomorrow. Starmer took to the stage today after a conference that feels more muted than Labour’s landslide victory might suggest. His speech was accordingly light on policy but heavy on warnings about what is likely to lie ahead.
This fits with the broad theme of new Labour premiers meeting their party after taking power. Much like Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair in 1946, 1964 and 1997, Keir Starmer chose to use his first speech to be honest with his party. He spoke of ‘trade offs’ in one of the more thoughtful sections of his speech, warning how ‘if we want justice to be served some communities must live close to new prisons’ and ‘if we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons overground’. A conference speech is a chance for a leader to motivate and explain: Starmer is better at the latter, even if it sometimes inhibits the former.
The most interesting passages were the ones in which Starmer addressed his critics head on
Starmer’s announcements were modest, but there were some cheers. His pledge to ‘house all veterans’ and ensure ‘homes will be there for heroes’ sparked two standing ovations – a reflection of how vital the issue has become to Labour’s voter base. Plans for a ‘Hillsborough law’ to force public bodies to co-operate with investigations were always going to go down particularly well in Liverpool. The (belated) confirmation that GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen also got warm applause too.
Undoubtedly the section of Starmer’s speech that received the most enthusiastic reception was his denunciation of the ‘violent, racist thugs’ involved in this summer’s riots. In judging Labour’s future it can sometimes be difficult to see what the party is for – but it is certainly clear what they are against. His remarks here were carefully judged, declaring that ‘concerns about immigration are legitimate’ and noting that the government’s policy is ‘to reduce both net migration and our economic dependency upon it.’ Starmer’s claim that ‘taking back control is a Labour argument’ showed an appreciation of the threat posed by Reform in some of Labour’s new won seats.
The most interesting passages were the ones in which Starmer addressed his critics head on. ‘Conference’, he said. ‘You know me by now, so you know all those shouts and bellows, the bad faith advice from people who still hanker for the politics of noisy performance, the weak and cowardly fantasy of populism – it’s water off a duck’s back.’ To laughs he continued: ‘Mere glitter on a shirt cuff. It’s never distracted me before, and it won’t distract me now.’ He added, for good measure: ‘Let me be clear. Our project has not and never will change.’ It was a striking line, given the number of Labour MPs privately hoping for a dash more optimism in government communications.
Starmer ended his speech with a resounding list of values which he will enact in power, to thunderous applause from delegates. The other memorable moment came when a pro-Gaza activist heckled the Prime Minister from the floor. Starmer clearly couldn’t wait to deliver his retort: ‘This guy’s got a pass to the 2019 conference!’ he declared joyfully, as the man was bundled out of the hall.
Jim Callaghan once remarked wistfully after the Falklands invasion: ‘I wish I’d had a war. If only I’d had a war.’ These days, it seems every Labour politician would love to have a heckler, if only to demonstrate their fealty to the project of change.
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