Labour conference live: Starmer speech to offer ‘light at end of tunnel’ as Reeves considers benefits cut
Sir Keir Starmer will warn he is making tough decisions towards a “new Britain” and cannot offer “false hope” about the challenges ahead.
He will address Labour delegates in Liverpool today at 2pm in his first party conference speech as prime minister.
But after he privately acknowledged that he needs to lift the spirits of the nation, he will say there is “light at the end of this tunnel”.
Sir Keir is expected to announce plans for new legislation in his keynote, including a “Hillsborough Law” which will introduce a legal duty of candour on public bodies and a new Fraud, Error and Debt Bill which will see welfare fraudsters dealt with faster.
The Labourgovernment has recently faced heavy criticism over its winter fuel allowance cut and gifts accepted by ministers.
Rachel Reeves is understood to be considering cuts to the welfare budget as part of her money-saving Budget to spend more on investment.
If the plan goes ahead, the state benefits budget could be reduced by helping more people get back to work which would lower the bill for income-related sickness benefits and universal credit.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
