Change is coming, PM says on eve of Labour conference

"Change is coming," Sir Keir Starmer has told Labour activists on the eve of the party's conference in Liverpool.

The gathering follows a difficult few weeks for the new government after questions over donations over clothing and gifts, and damaging briefings over the operation in No 10.

Starmer, deputy PM Angela Rayner, and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have been criticised for accepting donations of thousands of pounds worth of clothing from donors including Labour peer Waheed Alli - a practice they have now said will stop.

On Saturday, Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell told the BBC Labour was "not in hock" to vested interests "at all", and had declared donations correctly.

She said Labour was "taking on" water companies, rail companies and the football clubs, adding "we're on the side of fans, we're on the side of consumers, we're on the side of ordinary people".

Earlier this week, leaks about the salary of senior No 10 advisor Sue Gray hinted at tensions within government.

Asked about the leaks, Starmer told The Observer: “It is my job to do something about that and I accept that responsibility. And that just damages everybody."

Labour supporters are gathering ahead of the first conference the party has held as the party of government for 15 years.

Addressing London Labour members at an event on the eve of the conference, Starmer said people would "look back with pride at the 2024 Labour government in the way they look at the 1945 one".

The 1945 Labour government was responsible for many of what the party views as its greatest achievements including setting up the National Health Service.

Starmer also joked with his supporters that throwing glitter at him was an offence that now amounted to "treason" - a reference to his last conference speech, which was interrupted by a protester.

And he said that since moving into Downing Street he had been "getting to know" Larry, No 10's cat, adding: "We both spent 14 years chasing pests out of Downing Street."

The prime minister has also used the day before the official start of the conference to reiterate one of his key policies, speeding up housebuilding.

In a statement, Starmer said: "Housebuilding has stalled and planning changes blocked. The country has been held back."

He said his government was "turning that on its head" and that the introduction of "planning passports" would "put rocket boosters under housebuilding".

The government says the passports would mean the "default" response to proposals for urban developments would be yes, if they meet design and quality standards. The measure would first be consulted on before being implemented.

Elsewhere at the conference, the prime minister is facing continued criticism over his decision to cut winter fuel payments to 10 million pensioners, with a potential vote on the issue on the conference floor on Monday.

Speaking to the BBC, head of the Unite union Sharon Graham said "it's a misstep, it's a mistake" and "it's a cruel policy and they need to do a U-turn".

"If you can do a U-turn on one thing, you can do a U-turn on another," she said in reference to Starmer's decision to stop accepting clothing donations.

Starmer and Rayner have had meetings with unions who contribute to the party coffers, amidst doubts some have about the green agenda and how policies can fit with the future of traditional industries.

Gary Smith, the general secretary of the GMB, warned the party leadership it must listen to union voices.

"Labour now in government haven’t faced the harsh realities," he said.

"If Labour fails to listen to us on the issues about real jobs in places like oil and gas, and steel, and manufacturing and industry, the difficulty they will have is communities will get hollowed out, people will lose their jobs and the only winners will be the far right in this country."

Some unions are also known to have concerns about legislation to toughen up workers' rights, particularly calls for workers' rights "from day one".

Powell confirmed Labour's manifesto pledge to introduce workers' rights legislation in the first 100 days of the government would go ahead.

Describing the legislation as "a big package" that would be "the first step towards rebalancing our economy", she added it would be “big and bold and transformatory”.