Starmer Delivers Upbeat Speech to UK’s Labour Conference
At a Glance
- Sir Keir Starmer took to the stage in Liverpool after weeks of difficult headlines about donations and internal party politics.
- In a confident speech, he faced down his critics and told the country that there were hard choices ahead, due to the state of the public finances.
- Emotionally, he took aim at the rioters that wrought havoc across the country over the summer, telling them that the country “sees you and it rejects you.”
- The prime minister leaned into the concept of community, saying that his Missions would be delivered faster and more effectively if we are “all in it together.”
- In an attempt to move the narrative on, he spoke of “the light at the end of the tunnel,” and promised that although there were hard choices ahead, decisions would be taken “in a Labour way.”
A serious, balanced speech
At the start of this year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told us what his party’s first steps in government would be. Going into today’s speech, some thought his party was showing tired legs from a long campaign. Labour was ready for July’s surprise election campaign, but were they ready to govern? That was the question the prime minister had to answer today.
Starmer today delivered a speech that sought to balance the severity of the choices to come, but also to portray an element of optimism. Echoing the General Election campaign, change and service were the themes of the speech. Starmer told the Labour Conference that “the politics of national renewal are collective. They involve a shared struggle. A project that says, to everyone, this will be tough in the short term, but in the long term—it’s the right thing to do for our country. And we all benefit from that.”
Starmer is a serious leader, and he wanted his Conference to hear hard truths. But he implored the British people to stay the course with his Government; just because these decisions are hard doesn’t mean they will be done heartlessly. They will be done “in a Labour way.” Speaking about the cuts in the Winter Fuel Allowance, he spoke of the need to address the country’s “massive challenges,” and to consider the trade-offs. “I understand many of the decisions we must take will be unpopular. If they were popular—they’d be easy.”
But the prime minister reserved no conciliatory words for the populists who fanned the flames of the summer riots. Starmer spoke at length about the wave of violence that erupted across the country over July. In a passionate and sometimes emotional tone, he made a solemn pledge to the British people that never again would thugs and extremists be allowed to terrorize our communities. Addressing rioters directly, he warned them that “the country sees you and it rejects you…not only do we reject you, we know that you will never win because the British values we stand for, not just the rule of law, but a love for this country and our neighbors—that is stronger than bricks.”
As has become almost customary during party leaders’ Conference speeches, a heckler interrupted Starmer towards the end of his address to attack the party’s position on Gaza. As with last year, Starmer deftly seized upon the opportunity to talk about how his party is no longer one of protest, but of power: “That guy must have a pass from our 2019 Conference,” Starmer quipped—referring to the last conference that Jeremy Corbyn was leader. The audience quickly rallied around Starmer and spurred him on towards the conclusion of his speech.
The promise of a stronger, more united Britain was perhaps the fabled “light at the end of the tunnel” that was trailed in the newspapers ahead of the speech. The core of his message to Conference was that by making the hard decisions, things can and will be better in the future. The prime minister made it clear that he wants the whole nation to share the burden of fixing the problems of the country. It is a collective endeavour, he said. At his closing, which was met with roars of approval and standing ovations, he told Conference that national renewal was not only possible, but inevitable if long-term decisions were gripped.
Ultimately, Starmer pledged to deliver “a country with fairness in its waters that wants people to be respectful.” This was a speech where he showed his mettle in the face of his detractors, but also delivered a message of balance, fairness, and optimism. In what was perhaps the most important speech of his career so far, the prime minister showed beyond any doubt that he was up to the job.
The reaction on the ground
EGA’s team in the Conference Hall were struck by the atmosphere throughout. A rapt, engaged audience, hanging on the prime minister’s every word, delivered a series of standing ovations during Starmer’s hour-long address. Speaking to attendees in the immediate aftermath of Starmer’s address, EGA heard from a number of audience members how touched they felt by the his personal tone. “It really felt as though he was speaking to each and every one of us,” one remarked.
A senior trade unionist told EGA: “Starmer spoke directly to working people, treating them like grown-ups. There were tough messages on the nation’s finances and the need to make hard economic choices. But there was also a clear shift towards the hope and optimism of change under Labour. He repeatedly referred to re-balancing society and the economy in the interests of working people, a vital message for Labour to get across.”
A Labour insider close to Starmer’s office told us: “This was a serious speech. Yes, he allowed the members in the hall to celebrate the victory, but it was a speech very much aimed at the country and focused on their priorities.”
A former policy adviser and long-term Labour environmentalist got in touch to say: “Good to hear the PM start to talk about trade-offs; detail needs more work, yet his values, principles, and direction were clear. This speech should help many actors work out how they can play their part—as they used to say of Magaret Thatcher, her officials knew which way to call things.”
A Constituency Labour Party delegate speaking to EGA remarked: “Today’s speech showed us a bit more of what drives the Prime Minister. It was great to hear him set out more detail on some key policy issues, and to hear how the Government will take Labour’s agenda forward.”
Materials presented by Edelman Global Advisory London. For additional information, reach out to Mohammed.Hussein@EdelmanEGA.com
