Labour conference live: Rachel Reeves gives speech after crowd boos winter fuel allowance debate delay

Rachel Reeves has poked fun at the Tory leadership contest, sarcastically labelling it a “clash of the titans”.

She told the conference: “Never forget what the Conservatives did years ago today... They cut taxes for the richest, they crushed the economy, sent mortgages spiralling.

“They do not care, and they have learned nothing.”

Rachel Reeves has told the Labour conference she is part of trailblazing women who “worked hard”.

Before being interrupted by a protester, she said: “I am here today because I worked hard. Yes, most of all, I’m here because of the efforts of those who went before me, trailblazing women.

“Jenny Lee, Barbara Castle, our friend and our inspiration. Harriet Harman. And I’m here because of thousands of women, many of you in the hall today, broke down barriers and defeated low expectations to pave the way for the rest of us.

“I am a Labour chancellor because of that collective endeavour. I am the first woman chancellor because of that collective endeavour.

“And that collective endeavour does not stop here. It falls to me and to our generation of Labour women to follow in the footsteps of those who went before us, to write the work of all women back into our economic story.

“To show our daughters and our granddaughters that they need place no ceiling on their ambitions. That is the Britain we’re building. That is the Britain I believe in.”

The chancellor has been interrupted by a pro-Palestine protester who shouted: “And we are still selling arms to Israel!”

Ms Reeves said in response: “This is a changed Labour Party, a Labour Party that represents working people, and not a party of protest.”

Her comments echo a similar retort from Keir Starmer when he was heckled at Labour conference last year, Kate Devlin writes.

Rachel Reeves has said: “In this hall one year ago I stated my intention that the next time I addressed you, I would do so as the first ever female chancellor of the Exchequer. Today, conference, you can consider that a promise fulfilled.

“800 years, the post of chancellor of the Exchequer has existed, every one a man. On 5 July we made history.

“Every woman watching this will know no matter how high you climb, how hard you work, how qualified you are, there will always be moments when you are reminded some people still do not believe women can get the job done.

“Millions of women in our party, in our trade unions and in every walk of life, beat back those doubts.”

The chancellor has been received with a standing ovation before thanking the crowd in Liverpool.

She said: “Conference, thank you. This time last year, I stood on this stage and I made a commitment. I promised that we would get Britain building again, repair our NHS and power growth in every part of Britain.

“Today, after 14 wasted years, I stand here as your chancellor of the exchequer, ready to deliver on that commitment.”

She added: “Labour is back in the service of communities we never should have lost in our port, coal, steel and mills towns... And Labour is back in Scotland too.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves received applause and a standing ovation from Labour Party delegates as she came to the panel ahead of her speech in the main conference hall.

Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds is now delivering his speech.

Gary Neville has defended Sir Keir Starmer after he accepted free tickets to Premier League matches, saying criticism of the prime minister was “absolutely incredible”.

He told a Labour Party conference fringe event: “I’m struggling with the free football tickets one quite a bit, to be honest with you, when I look at the absolute corruption we’ve seen in the last five, six, seven, eight years with people getting billions of pounds worth of contracts in VIP lanes.”

He added: “Keir Starmer’s paid for his season ticket to go with his family to watch Arsenal all his life and he’s now being told he can’t go to that same seat, when I’m sure he would – you know he would, everybody knows he would – he’s been told he’s got to go in a hospitality box, a private box.

“To be fair, a lot of the people complaining about him will end up in those types of boxes themselves, including myself at times.”

Mr Neville continued: “I find it absolutely incredible that this level of attention is now being paid to a Labour prime minister when I look at the absolute cronyism we watched for years under that lot.”

The chancellor is preparing to address the crowd at the main stage at the Labour conference in Liverpool.

Ms Reeves is expected to promise there will be “no return to austerity” despite warning of “tough spending decisions” ahead.

She has insisted there will be “real terms increases to government spending in this parliament” as part of the 30 October budget.

You can follow live the latest updates from 12pm.