Labour conference live: Blow for Keir Starmer as members back union bid to reverse winter fuel payments cut
Labour members expose rift in party as they back unions’ non-binding motion over ‘cruel’ cut
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Sir Keir Starmer has been defeated in a vote to reverse the controversial cut to the winter fuel payments exposing a rift within the Labour party.
The non-binding motion, named An Economy for the Future and tabled by Sharon Graham of the Unite union and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), was passed by a show of hands in a rowdy hall at the Labour Party annual conference.
In a show of defiance, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham called Labour members to rebel against the policy as she shouted: “This is not what people voted for.”
The motion called for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be scrapped and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
The prime minister said in his conference speech on Tuesday that he understood concern over the winter fuel allowance but stressed that stabilising the economy was the first step of a long-term plan, adding: “Every pensioner will be better off with Labour.”
Sir Keir has now left the conference to join world leaders at the United Nations with a promise to deliver “global leadership” as the Middle East teeters on the brink of all-out conflict and the bloody war in Ukraine grinds on.
The Independent’s political team will be reporting live throughout the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Keir Starmer mistakenly calls for ‘return of the sausages’ in major Labour conference speech
Yes, ‘Superman’ Starmer made a slip of the tongue – but it didn’t take away from a banger of a speech
Keir Starmer’s speech may have been light on policy – but answered (some) questions
UK nationals told to leave Lebanon immediately as 700 troops sent to Cyprus
VOICES | Starmer’s speech finally gave us a reason to commit to the struggle
Labour has long warned the public of the struggle that lies ahead – but only now has the PM offered us the reasons why, writes Andrew Grice:
Starmer’s speech finally gave us a reason to commit to the struggle
Labour has long warned the public of the struggle that lies ahead – but only now has the PM offered us the reasons why, writes Andrew Grice
Watch live: Wes Streeting delivers speech on final day of Labour conference
Unite boss leads ‘save the winter fuel’ protest at Labour conference
The boss of Labour’s biggest union backer Unite has led a protest at party’s conference calling for Sir Keir Starmer to “save the winter fuel”, our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports from the Labour conference.
Left-winger Sharon Graham and Unite members chanted the slogan ahead of a crunch vote on the government’s plan to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The protest took place at the Unite stand in the venue.
The move has been approved by parliament but the vote could still prove embarrassing for Sir Keir, showing that he is out of step with his party on the issue.
The session to consider their motion begins at 10.40am and the vote is expected from 11.35am.
Starmer: Long-term benefit claimants need to look for work if they can
Sir Keir Starmer has said the “basic proposition” that long-term benefit claimants should look for work is right, after announcing new laws to crack down on welfare fraudsters.
He said people dealing with long-term sickness “need to be back in the workplace where they can”, promising support to help people back into employment.
As well as encouraging people back to work, the prime minister also announced new legislation to deal with welfare fraudsters more quickly, in a proposal Labour estimated would save the taxpayer £1.6 billion over the next five years.
In his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, the prime minister promised to “leave no stone unturned” in his mission to “rebuild our public services”.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story below:
Long-term benefit claimants need to look for work if they can, says Starmer
Prime minister has launched a drive to encourage the long-term sick back to work
Starmer: We will listen carefully to Zelensky’s demands for Ukraine military aid
Ukraine’s desire to use western missiles to strike targets in Russia will not be the “sole issue” in Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan”, Sir Keir Starmer said.
The US and UK have so far refused to give Kyiv permission to use the missiles they have supplied against targets in Russia, despite repeated pleas from Mr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian president has said that he is having to fight with his hands tied because he is unable to use the weapons to strike Russian airfields and military facilities which President Vladimir Putin is using to launch deadly air raids, missiles and drones.
Sir Keir is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where Mr Zelensky will present his plan for the next stage of the war to his allies.
The prime minister said: “I do think it’s going to take quite a bit of time at the UN General Assembly. And I think that’s really important, because it’s at a critical stage.
“Obviously, President Zelensky has a plan that he wants to walk through with all of us – we knew that was going to happen.
“The support for Ukraine is resolute. We supply quite a lot of capability already under the last government; we’ve increased that under this government – that’s not a criticism of the last government – and we will always listen very carefully to what Ukraine says it needs by way of capability.”
What does the union’s vote to reverse fuel winter allowance cuts mean for Starmer?
Unite and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will attempt to put forward a motion to reverse the winter fuel allowance cut.
Delegates and Labour members are all expected to vote on the controversial measure this morning.
But the motion at the Labour Party conference is non-binding, and Downing Street is not required to respond.
However, the vote represents a major division within the party with Sir Keir Starmer facing further pressure to make a U-turn on the policy.
Keir Starmer insists ‘you can’t pay for a ticket in the director’s box'
Sir Keir Starmer has further clarified the row over the amount of gifts and hospitality he received as prime minister.
According to data unveiled by Sky News, the PM accepted gifts with a total value of around £107,000.
Speaking to LBC, he chose to defend accepting donations for Arsenal football tickets, saying: “I’ve got season tickets for the Arsenal. I go with my son. We’ve had them for a long time.
“It’s one of the great pleasures of my life to take my boy to see football. Because of the security arrangements now, it simply isn’t possible for me to sit in the stands with my son.”
He added: “The club said, ‘Well, why don’t you be our guests in the director’s box?’
“Now, people say, ‘well, why don’t you pay for that?’ You can’t pay for a ticket in the director’s box.
“If you look at a picture of Rishi Sunak, all around him you will see people in pretty smart clothing. Some of those I know they’re his security team.
“And I don’t know about Southampton, but I do know that Arsenal, if the suggestion was made that some people be hoiked out of their season ticket seats, so that my security go in there, that would not be a popular move with fans for pretty obvious reasons.”
PM defends accepting freebies
Sir Keir Starmer has been asked over the donor’s gift row which has seen politicians accepting free clothes, concert and football match tickets.
It comes as Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli is believed to have given multiple donations to senior party figures.
But the prime minister said clothing gifts were offered during the election campaign but refused to comment any further.
On the use of Lord Alli’s flat, he claimed it was a support given to his son to revise for his GCSEs.
Sir Keir added that he has always bought Arsenal tickets but, due to security concerns, the club asked him to become its guest in the director’s box.
What’s on the Labour Party conference schedule today?
Today is the final day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
After a busy day for the Sir Keir Starmer, ministers take over with their keynote speeches.
Here’s what’s on the agenda today:
- 10:05 Wes Streeting, health secretary
- 10:45 Bridget Philipson, education secretary
- 10:55 Liz Kendall, work and pensions secretary
- 11:45 Ellie Reeves, Labour chairman
Starmer pushed on winter fuel payment cuts on pensioners
Nick Robinson has now pressed the prime minister on the controversial winter fuel allowance.
He said Sir Keir Starmer talked about a “shared struggle” but has not admitted that he has “singled out” pensioners to sacrifice their benefits.
In response, the prime minister told the BBC’s Today programme: “I’ve also got to face up to the fact that the NHS is on its knees.
“Pensioners rely on the NHS. Taking more money out of the NHS isn’t going to help to get it back on its feet.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments