BBC Politics

Sir Keir says it would be "a sign of government failure, not an act of God" if there was a second lockdown.

He adds: "It would take an immense toll on people’s physical and mental health and on the economy.

"We need a national effort to prevent a national lockdown."

He says Boris Johnson has "had months to prepare for this".

"But instead of getting a grip, the Government has lost control."

BBC Politics

He thanks the party for "putting your faith in me to be your new leader".

After speaking about his youth, growing up in Surrey and being the fourth member of the East Surrey Young Socialists, he moves onto the main topic of the day - coronavirus.

"The warnings yesterday from the Government’s advisors were stark," he says. "They can’t be ignored.

"Labour will act in the national interest. We will be a constructive opposition. We will support whatever reasonable steps are necessary to save lives and protect our NHS."

But he says there "should be nothing inevitable about a second lockdown".

BBC Politics

Ms Smeeth said Labour's election loss in December was "grim" and Labour must never experience anything like that again.

She said that "mistrust turned to outright dislike" in the eyes of many voters.

"Now we have to fix it today and that is why I am here today."

Turning to anti-Semitism, she said it has "been difficult to be Jewish in the party in the last few years" but that things are changing and the "visceral" hatred and wounds are being healed

She said the country needs "competent, compassionate and credible" leadership for the country and Sir Keir can provide that.

BBC Politics

After thanking Ms Smeeth, Sir Keir begins to talk about his own history with Doncaster, where he is giving his speech.

"My wife’s mum was born and grew up here – just next to the racecourse," he says. "We’re regulars here."

But he says it is the first leader's speech in Yorkshire since Harold Wilson in 1967.

"The circumstances were a bit different then."

BBC Politics

Sir Keir is currently being introduced by former Labour MP Ruth Smeeth.

This again is highly politically significant.

She is one of the leading female Jewish figures in the party and one who was on the receiving end of abuse in recent years as Labour struggled to confront the issue of anti-Semitism in its ranks.

She also represented a Red Wall seat of Stoke-on-Trent North until last December, when she lost it to the Conservatives.

Her old seat will be one Sir Keir will hope to win back next time.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

On the eve of their first "virtual" party conference, Labour unveiled their new slogan: "A New Leadership".

It replaced "Under New Management", a phrase Sir Keir Starmer has been using since July, initially at Prime Minister's Questions, to distance himself from the previous leadership's position on Russia and national security.

Sir Keir's strategists feel that this was a little too backward-looking - defining him simply as Not Jeremy Corbyn - and that the new form of words will have wider appeal.

A lot of weight will be placed on the short slogan's shoulders.

Read more analysis from Iain here.

BBC Politics

The typical leader's speech to conference has a few familiar elements.

There are often few gags to begin with, there is always criticism of the opposition, some personal and biographical flourishes and then what journalists call the "vision thing" - essentially where they want to take the country and how they plan to do so.

Judging from his performance in the House of Commons, and given the times we are living through, this is likely to be a serious speech with very little knockabout.

But Sir Keir will want to "introduce" himself to people who don't know a lot about him so expect him to talk a little bit about his family background, his values and what motivated him to get into politics.

One thing that is unlikely is a whole load of new policy ideas.

We are more than four years away from the next election and as Lisa Nandy said earlier, Sir Keir will be focused on showing how Labour has changed in "tone and approach".

Not long now.

The lectern is in place.

And we're poised to bring you all the details with analysis from our team of reporters from 09:00 BST.

Image source, PA Media

Sir Keir will be delivering his speech to conference while the country awaits to hear about more possible restrictions related to coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be up in the Commons at 12:30 BST to outline his plans for England as cases continue to rise across the UK. He will then address the nation at 20:00.

We already know that pubs and restaurants will be facing a new 22:00 curfew on Thursday, and Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has hinted to a change in the approach to going to work.

Read more of today's latest news here.

There is no doubt Sir Keir is facing a number of challenges as the new Labour leader.

He took over the party after four election defeats - including last December, where the party lost many of its heartland constituencies in the Midlands and North of England.

But one the party has long wrestled with is its approach to patriotism and how to strike the balance between flag waving supporter and realistic critic of the UK.

We spoke to a range of Labour voices to look at the history of this dilemma and what approach he should take.

Read more from our online political reporter, Jennifer Scott, here.

Image source, PA Media

From the excerpts of the speech we've seen so far, Sir Keir will appeal to the public to take "another look" at his party which he will stress is under "new leadership" after the Corbyn years.

The Labour leader has travelled to Doncaster in South Yorkshire to deliver his speech.

At face value, this seems a little odd as he will be speaking to an empty hall, but of course, there's a political message behind it.

By leaving London, he's signalling that his party is taking the concerns of voters in "Red Wall" seats seriously, many of whom defected to the Conservatives at the last election.

He will talk about issues which he believes matters to them, such as family, security and their love of their country.

The Labour Party isn't alone in having to sacrifice their annual event due to the pandemic.

All the major parties will be going virtual this year as limits to mass gathering continue to be in force.

So the debates and speeches won't feature the familiar laughs, groans and applause.

And intrigues will no longer happen late at night in the crowded hotel bars of Birmingham, Liverpool, Brighton and Glasgow.

Read more about these new-style conferences from our reporters Justin Parkinson and Philip Sim here.

Image source, PA Media

PA's photographer Stefan Rousseau snapped Sir Keir yesterday, as he prepared for today's speech in his office in Parliament.

The address is being live-streamed on the Labour Party website to members, from the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum in Doncaster.

But of course, we'll guide you through it all here, and you can watch the live feed by clicking on the link above.

BBC Politics

Good morning and welcome to our special coverage of Sir Keir Starmer's first speech as leader at the Labour Party conference.

It won't be your typical leader's speech - due to coronavirus, the whole event is taking place online.

But while we can't be in the conference hall for you, we will be bringing you all the details and analysis at 09:00 BST (08:00 GMT).

Stay with us.