Cheers for child poverty commitment - but what about two-child cap?published at 14:51 BST 30 September

14:51 BST 30 September

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The PM gets cheers for his commitment to reduce child poverty levels, but he does not commit the government to lifting the two-child poverty cap - which many in his party wish to see.

That said, very little is being done here to dampen down speculation that it will happen.

There are two opportunities to do so - when the Child Poverty Task Force publishes its work and, of course, in the next Budget.

Turning to childcare, the PM references the government's programme offering 30 hours of free childcare for children ages between 9 months and 4 years old during term time.

He says the policy sets up children for reception and gives them the best chance for life at the start of their education.

The prime minister then says working people have paid the price of Tory decline. Raising his voice, he begins listing policies and met with applause.

He lists Labour investments in the NHS, in Great British Energy, rental protections, wages, schools and new homes.

"Because a Britain where no child is hungry and where no child is held back by poverty, that is a Britain built for all," he says.

Image source, Reuters

Turning to his father, Starmer makes a joke that he thinks by now the audience "know[s] what he did for a living".

"Then again, do you know?" he jokes - referencing the skill, craft and precision needed for tool making.

The audience laughs and Starmer smiles.

He then explains his dad felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" because he worked with his hands.

The prime minister further references his sister who works as a care worker - "amazing work", he says - and his brother who he says was "failed" by the education system.

He says he wants a Britain where people are treated with the "dignity" they deserve for making different choices.

Starmer says he is scrapping the target of 50% of Britain's young people going to university - a 1999 Blair-era flagship policy, which was first met 20 years later in 2019.

"We will scrap that target and we will replace it with a new ambition," he says.

Instead, he continues, there'll be a new target - to get two-thirds of young people either in university or taking part in "gold standard apprenticeships".

When we receive details of this policy from the prime minister's office, we'll share it with you.

Silence as Starmer mentions cash being diverted from aid budgetpublished at 14:38 BST 30 September

14:38 BST 30 September

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

In this speech, the PM is still describing that elusive commodity - economic growth - as his priority.

His argument now has developed since the election - arguing that it is a social good, as people feel better off, division and resentment will reduce as a result.

And he makes the case of investing in traditional industries as well as in future and green technologies.

Politically this is in part not to allow Reform UK to suggest those who work in heavy industry are being abandoned.

And he now also looks to more funding for defence as a driver of growth.

Barely a murmur, interestingly, from the floor when he reminds them that he is diverting cash from the aid budget in order to do so.

Image source, Reuters

Starmer now moves on to growth: "The defining mission of this government is to grow the economy, improve living standards, and change the way we create wealth".

He says this reflects people's money for trips, meals out and pounds in pockets. But he says it is also the "antidote to division".

The way you grow an economy can either build a nation or pull it apart, the prime minister argues.

They can cut "taxes for the few while dismantling the infrastructure for many", or "we choose industrial policy, from the steelworks of Scunthorpe, to the datacentres of Essex, and the wind farms of south Wales".

Following a long applause, he adds: "Public investment does not crowd-out the private, we should invest more outside of London and the South East."

Going back to domestic politics, Starmer says "working people are losing faith" and being made to "question Britain".

He says these are the same people who've lived through austerity, Brexit, the Covid pandemic and played by the rules - but "politics ducked the challenge of renewal".

"That is why we must never find ourselves defending a status quo that failed working people."

He says it goes back to the global financial crisis of 2008, and Britain became "complacent" - he says a priority now is to "renew every town and city on these islands".

Next up in Keir Starmer's conference speech is the Middle East.

He welcomes the US peace plan for Gaza, announced by President Trump yesterday, saying "all sides must now come together" to turn the initiative into reality.

Starmer adds that we must also restart the hope of a two-state solution - referencing a Palestinian state which "this country now recognises".

• For more on the latest in Gaza and the US peace plan - you can head to our separate live page

An attempt to define patriotism?published at 14:29 BST 30 September

14:29 BST 30 September

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

With a profusion of flags in evidence on our streets, Keir Starmer is attempting not just to claim the mantle of patriotism but to define it - hence the references not just to the beauty of Britain but to its diversity and tolerance.

Image source, PA Media

Starmer says he's working for national renewal - but, he warns, there is another path, one of decline leading to ruin.

Turning to his political opponents, namely Nigel Farage, the PM asks his audience: "When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain's future?

"He can't, he doesn't like Britain."

The prime minister says Farage and others resort to grievance, wanting to turn Britain into a competition of victims and telling working class people not to trust each other.

But Britain is a great country, he says, "a decent, pragmatic, tolerant and reasonable country". And that is the Britain I am fighting for, he says - a sentiment which gets a big round of applause.

Starmer's presenting a choice: Labour or Reformpublished at 14:26 BST 30 September

14:26 BST 30 September

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The PM says not for the first time that the country is at a "fork in the road" - effectively framing politics as a choice between his Labour and Reform UK.

But he also seeks to address those frustrated with his government - hence suggesting there is "hope" at the end of the "hard road".

Right now if you look at the polls, significant numbers of voters are not enjoying the bumpy ride.

Moving on, Starmer tells the room that the government and working people are "dragging us out of decline, building a new Britain".

"We can all see our country faces a choice, a defining choice. Britain stands at a fork in the road. We can choose decency, or we can choose division. Renewal or decline."

He warns against the "politics of grievance" and says Britain is in a "fight for the soul of our country" - comparing it to rebuilding Britain after the war.

While the path to renewal will be "long" and "difficult," Starmer says at the end will be a new country that is a "land of dignity and respect".

He describes what he sees as a better Britain, with flags "flying proudly, as we celebrate difference and oppose racism". He receives a loud applause.

Starmer takes to the stage to rapturous applause.

He thanks Aspinall, the Hillsborough campaigner mentioned in our last couple of posts, and says that even after the unimaginable grief of losing her son, she fought for Hillsborough Law.

The Labour Party was founded to hear from working class people, he goes on, before recognising victims of both the Grenfell Tower fire and the Windrush scandal.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

This speech started with a standing ovation - not for the PM himself but for the mother of a Hillsborough victim who had taken to the stage first.

Under criticism for not delivering change swiftly enough, Labour are keen to highlight that they delivered the "Hillsborough Law" - the duty of candour on public officials - as promised, and they want to highlight the difference that a Labour government can make.

Margaret Aspinall is cheered when says she is speaking from the heart.

Image source, Reuters

Hillsborough campaigner Margaret Aspinall is introducing Keir Starmer to the stage for his speech.

Her 18-year-old son James was one of the 97 victims who lost their lives in the 1989 Hillsborough tragedy.

She starts by saying she is here to explain why Hillsborough Law is "so important" and is met with applause. The law will include a duty of candour for public officials.

"I've met a prime minister who has kept his promise," she goes on to say ahead of Starmer taking the stage.

She then thanks the PM for listening and keeping his word.

• Read more about the "Hillsborough Law" bill

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

Image source, Reuters

In a packed hall, I'm seeing lots of miniature flags for England, Scotland and Wales being handed out to delegates.

That ties in with Keir Starmer wanting to reclaim national flags for the Labour Party with his vision of "patriotic renewal".

The venue in Liverpool is packed and seats have been taken, with Keir Starmer's speech about to begin.

We'll bring you key lines right here, and you can follow along by tapping the watch live button at the top of this page.

We're seeing the latest images of Keir Starmer, minutes before he's due to give a speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.

We're due to hear from the PM in the next 10 minutes, so stick around.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, EPA

This should be a conference of jubilation - but it's notpublished at 13:38 BST 30 September

13:38 BST 30 September

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been addressing the Labour conference this morning, speaking about the government's health policies.

He spoke about a digital revolution for the health industry and his ambition not just to recover the NHS, but to "rebuild it to meet the challenges of the 21st century".

While speaking of additional support for care workers, Streeting called for the return of Angela Rayner, who resigned as deputy PM after admitting paying too little stamp duty on a home. Streeting said Rayner "understands the struggle care workers face, because she was one. Angela Rayner, this achievement is yours".

He was also critical of Reform UK, branding leader Nigel Farage a "snake oil salesman" and a "con artist", saying Farage wanted to replace the NHS with an insurance system.

Prior to his speech, the health secretary told the PA news agency that he was looking to begin a trial into puberty blockers, which are used to treat transgender children, "as soon as possible". The medication was banned following the 2024 Cass Review which found that studies into its effects were of poor quality.