8 key moments in Keir Starmer’s keynote speech – from heckler to Hillsborough

Keir Starmer gave his keynote speech to Labour Party Conference this afternoon – hoping to cheer up party faithful at a rainy, gloomy gathering in Liverpool.

Despite much of the speech being sober and serious – he managed to some much needed optimism and enthusiasm into the crowd.

There were a couple of new policy announcements in the speech – and even a couple of good jokes.

And a heckler failed to knock the Prime Minister off his stride – even injecting a little nervous energy into the room for the PM’s final flourish.

Here’s the 8 things you need to know about Keir Starmer’s first Labour Conference speech as Prime Minister.

1. GB Energy’s HQ confirmed

GB Energy – a publicly owned clean energy company being set up by Labour – will have its headquarters in Aberdeen, the PM announced.

Labour’s promised during the election campaign the agency would create jobs and cut bills for cash-strapped consumers. Speaking at the party’s conference, Mr Starmer said the agency “could only ever be based in one place in Scotland“.

He said: “We said, GB Energy, our publicly-owned national champion, the vehicle that will drive forward our mission on clean energy, we said it belonged in Scotland, and it does.

“But the truth is, it could only really ever be based in one place in Scotland. So today, I can confirm that the future of British energy will be powered as it has been for decades, by the talent and skills of the working people in the Granite City, with GB Energy based in Aberdeen.”

2. Hillsborough Law to come by April

Mr Starmer used his speech to confirm a Hillsborough Law to prevent cover-ups by the state would be introduced before the anniversary of the disaster next year.

It will give victims of injustice greater power to take on the state, creating a legal duty of candour for public servants such as police officers.

It came as the PM condemned the “countless injustices over the years suffered by working people at the hands of those who are supposed to serve them”.

He said that it was “also a law for the subpostmasters of the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, Windrush, Grenfell Tower and all the countless injustices over the years suffered by working people at the hands of those who were supposed to serve them”.

He added: “I can confirm that the duty of candour will apply to public authorities and public servants, the Bill will include criminal sanctions and that the Hillsborough law will be introduced to Parliament before the next anniversary in April.”

3. Heckler fails to derail the speech

Mr Starmer’s first major conference speech as Prime Minister has been briefly interrupted by a heckler shouting about the war in Gaza.

Towards the end of the PM’s address Daniel Riley confronted the Labour leader before he was hauled out of the arena at the party’s annual conference. Student Mr Riley, 18, said he was infuriated by “hypocrisy” over British weapons being used in the Middle East.

But the PM – who had glitter thrown over him during last year’s speech by a protestor – quipped back: “This guy has obviously got a pass from the 2019 conference.” He added: “While he’s been protesting, we’ve been changing the party. That’s why we got a Labour Government.”

Mr Riley told reporters outside the conference venue: “When I heard him speak about how he wanted a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, the hypocrisy that we’re still sending British bombs and British bullets that are being used right now. And the Prime Minister could stop that right now.”

4. A crackdown on benefit fraud – and no backing down on Winter Fuel

Legislation will be introduced to take faster action against people committing benefit fraud, Keir Starmer said in his conference speech.

The PM also promised to bring the welfare bill down by tackling long-term sickness and supporting people back into the workplace. The PM said: “If we want to maintain support for the welfare state, then we will legislate to stop benefit fraud”.

It was reported No10 wants to introduce a new fraud, error and debt bill so that the Department for Work and Pensions can recover lost money. It is also expected to contain measures to protect vulnerable claimants.

But critics, including the ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, said: “If you close your eyes and listen to the language being used, it’s almost like George Osborne speaking again in 2010. When you hear politicians talk about tough choices or painful decisions, and then you hear some of the rhetoric around fraud and social security, literally that’s a replica of a speech made by George Osborne in 2010.”

Later, the PM admitted pensioners will be “concerned” about his decision to axe winter fuel payments for all but the poorest OAPs. But he said in order to cut NHS waiting lists and secure the triple lock on pensions the £22billion blackhole left behind by the Tories must be plugged.

5. New apprenticeships for young people

New foundation apprenticeships will be introduced as Labour aims to eradicate unemployment and inactivity among young people.

The government said they will give youngsters a route into critical sectors with more details to be set out by the Department for Education in the coming weeks.

The PM said: “We’ll introduce new foundation apprenticeships, rebalance funding in our training system back to young people, align that with what businesses really need – the first step to a youth guarantee that will eradicate inactivity and unemployment for our young people once and for all.”

Labour’s manifesto promised a youth guarantee scheme to ensure all 18-21-year-olds have access to training, apprenticeships, or support to find work.

6. Tough words on ‘racist’ rioters

The biggest crowd response was for the Prime Minister’s strong words about the riots – and the “usual suspects” that whipped them up.

“I will never let a minority of violent, racist, thugs terrorise our communities,” he said to a roar of approval.

He told delegates “concerns over immigration” were legitimate – reminding them it’s party policy to reduce net migration.

But he rejected the idea that the “millions of people concerns about immigration are one and the same as the same thing as the people who smashed up businesses, who targeted mosques, attempted to burn refugees, scrawled racist graffiti over walls, Nazi salutes at the cenotaph, attacked NHS nurses and told people with different coloured skin…people who contribute here, people who grew up here… That they should “go home”. “

Instead, he painted a picture of how he sees Britain – a tolerant country of people with grit and determination.

7. Homes for heroes

One of the only genuinely new announcements in the speech, was confirmation of Labour’s manifesto pledge to provide homes to homeless veterans.

“There is another injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets,” he said.

“In every town and city in this country. 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, and so today, I can announce that this government will respect that service we will repay those who served us and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes. “

8. Some actual funny jokes

Jokes in political speeches are not known for their quality. But the PM’s speechwriters came up with a couple of genuinely funny lines in a speech that was often a little glum.

First he told a story about visiting a cottage in the Lake District he’d spent time in as a child, and being invited in to look around by the couple who own it. “They were lovely,” he said. “They said come inside, go upstairs, take a walk down memory lane. So we did and we’re back outside, chatting, when she stopped, suddenly and said…’Someone’s nicking your car.’

“I said no – that’s the police moving the car. And that…that really confused her. Anyway – at this point her husband comes over [and says] ”You haven’t clocked have you… he’s the Leader of the Opposition, a politician…

“And she stops…she smiles…laughs…and says politely – oh if I’d known that you were a politician I’d have pushed you down the stairs when I had the chance.“

Later on there was a similarly self-deprecating line about Mr Starmer’s love of classical music. “Even now I turn to Beethoven or Brahms in those moments when, how to put it…the reviews aren’t that good. So yes, before you ask – I’ve got some Shostakovich lined up for tomorrow.”