Keir Starmer speech - live: Labour leader shakes off glitter ambush and unveils ‘mission for government’

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at Labour’s conference centre in Liverpool ahead of his speech at 2pm.

Labour is being urged to adopt a safe passage visa scheme for refugees in a bid to stop the illegal boat crossings.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) published a document at the Labour Party’s annual conference explaining how such a visa would enable a qualified person to travel safely to the UK to claim asylum on arrival.

Paul O’Connor, of the PCS, told a fringe meeting he believed 98 per cent of crossings would stop if people could obtain a safe passage visa.

“People are crossing the Channel in record numbers despite government attempts to stop them.

A word cloud has found people think Sir Keir Starmer is “boring”.

The Museum of Liverpool was evacuated and cordoned off by a bomb quad after a “suspicious item” was found inside, which was later discovered to be a Second World War training device.

Visitors were instructed to leave as a cordon was placed around the building, while a fringe Labour conference event continued outside.

Holly Evans reports:

Keir Starmer is about to address conference.

We’ll bring you updates on his remarks throughout.

He will vow to “heal” Britain after 13 years of Conservative Party rule that have “ruined” the country.

Starmer’s speech is immediately interrupted by a heckler.

A man covered the Labour leader in glitter and shouted “our future is in crisis”.

He is bundled off by security.

Jon Stone has more details:

A protester has stormed the stage during Keir Starmer’s Labour conference speech and thrown glitter over the Labour leader.

The man shouted: “We demand a people’s house, we are in crisis – politics needs an update. We are in crisis.”

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After being interrupted by a heckler, Sir Keir Starmer opened his speech at Labour Party conference by saying: “If he thinks that bothers me he doesn’t know me.

“Protest not power, that is why we changed our party conference.”

His speech was introduced by Marie Tidball, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Penistone and Stocksbridge.

Sir Keir Starmer continued his speech by expressing sympathy for Manchester, which played host to the “circus” of the Conservative conference.

He said: “I really do feel for any city that had to host that circus last week.

“Honestly – what can you say about a Prime Minister who goes to Manchester to cancel Manchester’s train line?

“The self-declared champion of motorists, who had to borrow a shopworker’s car for his photo op. A man who keeps a close watch on the cost-of-living crisis from the vantage point of his short-haul helicopter.

“Conference, I never thought I’d say this but I’m beginning to see why Liz Truss won.

“Although I still think we’d be better off with that lettuce.”

Sir Keir warned the “way back” from 13 years of Conservative government would be hard.

He said: “Thirteen years of ‘things can only get better’ versus thirteen years of ‘things have only got worse”.

“Conference – this is what we have to fight: the Tory project to kick the hope out of this country.”

He added: “I have to warn you: our way back from this will be hard. But know this. What is broken can be repaired. What is ruined can be rebuilt. Wounds do heal.

“And ultimately that project – their project – will crash against the spirit of working people in this country. They are the source of my hope.”