Sir Keir Starmer is set to address the nation to compare his task as prime minister to the communities that rallied round to clean up in the wake of the summer’s riots.
In his first keynote speech from Downing Street, Sir Keir will suggest the riots showed “the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure”.
The prime minister will promise to “get a grip” on the problems facing Britain and “reverse a decade of decline” said to have taken place during “14 years of rot” under the previous Conservative government.
Sir Keir will use his speech to warn that “frankly – things will get worse before we get better” as the Labour administration tries to deal with “not just an economic black hole but a societal black hole”.
The warnings come as Labour battles accusations of cronyism after it emerged Lord Alli – who has donated more than £500,000 to the party over the past 20 years – was given a pass to Number 10 despite not having a formal job there.
On Sunday, senior minister Pat McFadden said it had been a temporary arrangement to allow Lord Alli to attend political meetings, adding that he no longer had a pass.
Key Points
What time is Sir Keir Starmer’s speech today?
PM vows to ‘get a grip’ on UK’s problems and ‘reverse a decade of decline’
Starmer cancels appointment of senior general as national security adviser
Minister blames Tories’ ‘economic mess’ for winter fuel payments cuts
Starmer cancels Sunak’s ‘wasteful’ £40m private helicopter contract
Braverman says Starmer paving the way for ‘draconian’ tax rises with speech
08:53 , Salma Ouaguira
Suella Braverman has claimed Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to pave the way for “draconian” tax rises at the next budget with his first keynote speech as prime minister, set to be delivered this morning at 10am.
She also argued that the chancellor’s claim that the government inherited a £22bn “black hole” in the public finances from the previous Tory government is “one of the biggest lies in British politics right now”.
Government to extend Household Support Fund beyond 30 September
08:43 , Salma Ouaguira
The Labour government is set to extend the hardship fund to support hard-up households in England amid winter fuel payments backlash.
In the upcoming weeks, ministers are expected to announce that the Household Support Fund will be rolled over beyond its deadline on 30 September, Whitehall officials told the Financial Times.
The fund was launched in 2021 with an initial £500 million pot of cash to help people through the winter and has been extended four times since then.
Labour vows to ‘fix the foundations of the country’
08:36 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer wants to “fix the foundations of the country”, Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves said before the prime minister’s speech from Downing Street’s rose garden today.
Speaking to LBC radio, she said: “The Prime Minister will be speaking later today about the inheritance from 14 years of Conservative government, the black hole in the country’s finances, but also the societal black hole that we’re facing.
“For example, the fact that the prison estate has been operating at 99% capacity with no plan from the previous government to fix that, so he’ll be talking about fixing the foundations.
“Under the previous government, we saw the sticking plaster politics papering over the cracks, hoping that something would come up, whereas Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, wants to fix the foundations of the country so that people’s lives can be better.”
Starmer to end £40 private helicopter contract in break from Rishi Sunak era
08:26 , Salma Ouaguira
Labour has reportedly suspended the private helicopter service loved by Rishi Sunak to save the taxpayer £40 million.
The “grossly wasteful” contract was srapped by defence secretary John Healy just weeks after coming into office.
According to The Sun, Mr Healey has decided not to renew the million-worth contract, with a government source branding the helicopter a “symbol” of the Tories.
Both deals with Sloane Helicopters and another five-year contract, have both been axed. Senior ministers will instead use government-owned vehicles such as RAF choppers if needed.
A government source said: “The Tories‘ VIP helicopter service became a symbol of their government: grossly wasteful, head in the clouds, and totally out of touch with the problems facing the rest of the country.
“Given the sacrifices the British people will have to make as a result of the last government, it’s only right that this service is brought to an end.
“Our new government is putting politics back in the service of working people and getting a grip of the public finances.”
What time is Sir Keir Starmer’s speech today?
08:16 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer is set to deliver a major keynote speech this morning from Downing Street.
The prime minister will address the nation around 10am to promise that his government will do the “hard work” to “root out 14 years of rot” under the Conservatives.
The speech and press conference, ahead of MPs returning to Westminster on Monday, will be an attempt by Sir Keir to manage expectations about the time needed to turn things around – he has previously spoken about the need for a “decade of national renewal”, implying at least two terms of Labour rule.
“Next week, Parliament will return. The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual,” the Prime Minister will say.
Ellie Reeves insists ‘proper processes’ were followed over donor Lord Alli
08:15 , Salma Ouaguira
Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves said the “proper processes” were followed when questioned on why a Labour donor Lord Alli was given a pass to Number 10.
She told Sky News: “Well, there’s no rules that prevent someone who has made a donation or had a political job in the past being, having a role.
“There are rules that have to be followed, there are processes that have to be followed, and it’s important that those rules are respected.
“Lord Alli had a pass for a few weeks. I don’t know all the details of that, but I’m sure the proper processes were followed.”
“He had a pass for a few weeks, as I understand it, he hasn’t got a pass now. He’s a well respected figure, a Labour peer,” she added.
Labour warned UK could see rioting again over pensions age increase
08:10 , Salma Ouaguira
An expert has warned the Labour government over plans to rise the retirment age for state pension eligibility to 71.
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to stop the move or the nation could see rioting in the streets again if the pension age is raised again.
Andrew Oxlade - director at investment fund managers Fidelity International - suggested such moves could lead to civil unrest.
He told The Herald: “Consider, for instance, the violent pensions protests that have repeatedly erupted in France and the Russian demonstrations of 2018.”
It comes as chancellor Rachel Reeves is under spiralling pressure to increase tax thresholds as pensioners could be forces to pay income tax.
Tugendhat calls the military to tackle small boats to ‘fight it like slavery'
08:01 , Salma Ouaguira
Tory leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat has called for the military to be involved in tackling illegal migration in the way the Royal Navy helped stop slavery.
The shadow security minister said it was not “wrong or nasty to be against illegal migration” and tackling human trafficking gangs was the “moral thing to do”.
He said the UK’s national security “demands the same level of commitment” the Royal Navy showed “in the fight against slavery almost 200 years ago” – which cost the equivalent of around £50 billion a year.
A recording of Mr Tugendhat’s speech, delivered at Kensington, Bayswater, Chelsea and Fulham Conservatives association on 14 August, was obtained by The Times.
The newspaper reported that he told Tory members: “Human trafficking is costing thousands of lives and being weaponised by the Kremlin and its proxies. The UK must show the same determination and commitment to fighting this evil trade as we did in fighting slavery.
“We need to see our military engaged in fighting this threat.”
Labour minister blames Tories’ ‘economic mess’ for winter fuel payments cuts
07:46 , Salma Ouaguira
Cabinet Office minister Ellie Reeves blamed the Tories’ “economic mess” for the restrictions on winter fuel payments, as she denied claims that Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet members are split on the policy.
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “This is an incredibly tough decision, and not one that the Chancellor wanted to be taking, but it’s because of the economic mess that we’ve inherited from the previous government.”
She added: “The Cabinet are behind the Chancellor on this. This is a decision that’s been taken by the Chancellor, with the support of the Cabinet, there aren’t splits on this.
“It’s a decision that no one wanted to be in the position to have to make, it’s not something that we wanted to do, but it’s something that is the responsible thing to do because of that £22 billion black hole in the country’s finances.”
Downing Street draws up plans for announcing death of Larry the cat
07:33 , Salma Ouaguira
Downing Street officials are preparing a “media plan” to announce the eventual passing of Larry the cat, The Independent understands.
Larry has become a widely loved fixture of Downing Street and is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts.
The 17-year-old ‘chief mouser’ is thought to be in his final years, having already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby cat.
Starmer cancels appointment of senior general as national security adviser
07:32 , Salma Ouaguira
The prime minister has reportedly cancelled the appointment of the top Royal Marines general as the UK’s national security adviser.
Sir Keir Starmer has overturned the decision made by predecessor Rishi Sunak to give the job to General Gwyn Jenkins, who was due to take the role this summer.
The Guardian reported that Gen Jenkins, who was previously vice chief of the defence staff, will be allowed to re-apply for the job but suggested the move could be a sign that the Labour Prime Minister will seek to appoint an ally to the role.
A government spokesperson told the PA news agency: “All senior appointments will be considered in the usual way.”
But an unnamed official told The Guardian: “This looks like another part of the grab for power by Keir Starmer and (his chief of staff) Sue Gray.
“The process to appoint Jenkins was run with full transparency, and there is no good reason to do it all over again.”
Starmer vows to ‘get a grip’ on UK’s problems and ‘reverse a decade of decline’
07:31 , Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer will compare his task as Prime Minister to the communities that rallied round to clean up in the wake of the summer’s riots.
The Prime Minister will promise that his Government will do the “hard work” to “root out 14 years of rot” under the Conservatives.
Sir Keir will suggest the riots showed “the cracks in our society after 14 years of populism and failure”.
But in a speech in the Downing Street rose garden, he will say: “The riots didn’t just betray the sickness, they revealed the cure, found not in the cynical conflict of populism but in the coming together of a country the morning after and cleared up their community.
“Because that is who we are, that is what we stand for. People who cared for their neighbour.
“Communities who stood fast against hatred and division. Emergency services who did their duty – even when they were in danger. And a Government that put the people of this country first.”
Sir Keir will use his speech to warn that “frankly – things will get worse before we get better” as the Labour administration tries to deal with “not just an economic black hole but a societal black hole”.
This article was written by Salma Ouaguira from The Independent and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
(Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)