Labour Conference 2026

 Peter John, Wednesday 30 September Andy Burnham promised a different kind of Leader’s Speech this afternoon in Liverpool - and my sense was that he more than delivered.

A National Care Service was at the core of the speech, linked to a removal of the state pension triple lock (to be replaced by a double lock from 2030). But this was a speech about giving back to those who still harbour the working class aspiration that his parents held. A deeply personal speech he appeared close to tears after a long pause as he spoke of how the son of a man who had failed his 11+ was now Prime Minister.

The speech also set out Andy’s theory of growth - how local control of basic services was essential to create the right conditions for business to invest and grow.

He promised that Labour will fight the next election on a promise to reform our electoral system - a national commission will be launched to look at the options.

And the Prime Minister promised to try to achieve consensus about his plans for change with other parties.

Citing John Swinney’s ill-timed comments about Burnham being the last Prime Minister of a United Kingdom, the PM said that he was now determined to prove him wrong by building growth across the country. In my view the SNP have had a free pass for too long on their appalling record in government - and I hope that Andy Burnham will take them on seriously and demonstrate why those failures are not inevitable.

Foreign affairs and defence received passing references, but there is only so much that can be covered in an hour and ten minutes when you are laying out a political philosophy! But he did hint at a much closer relationship with the EU - being clear that Brexit had not worked - we have not taken back control.

But I think that this was a brave speech that was well received - and which I hope will lay the ground for a more mature conversation about our politics. The country cannot afford to miss this opportunity.