This afternoon saw Sir Keir Starmer addressing the Labour Party Conference for the first time as Prime Minister, pledging a government that will rebuild public services and encourage reform.
A number of issues were addressed by the Prime Minister, as he took to the stage at the ACC in Liverpool, including foreign policy, welfare, housing, energy, and public service. The first of these to be discussed was the much discussed ‘Hillsborough Law’ which will apply to public authorities and carry criminal sanctions. Commenting on the law, which will be introduced to Parliament before the next anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, the Prime Minister said:
“I promised that if I ever had the privilege to serve our country as Prime Minister, one of my first acts would be to bring in a Hillsborough Law – a Duty of Candour.
“A law for Liverpool, a law for the 97, a law that people shouldn’t have had to fight so hard to get… that will be delivered by this Labour government. It’s also a law for the sub Postmasters in the Horizon scandal, the victims of infected blood, Windrush, Grenfell Tower.”
One of the most significant developments that the government has delivered since coming into power at the beginning of July, is the launch of Great British Energy. The publicly-owned energy company will bring energy security to the UK, whilst also developing renewable energy. As part of Starmer’s speech, it was confirmed that GB Energy will be based in Aberdeen. Confirming this, the PM announced:
“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.
“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.”
Amongst the worsening homelessness crisis, the Prime Minister also announced that the Homes for Heroes scheme would see the government working to ensure accommodation for all homeless veterans, as part of a mission to ‘repay those who served us.’
Image credit: UK Parliament
Audio credit: The Labour Party
