As the UK Labour Party’s annual conference begins in Liverpool, marking its first as a governing party in 15 years, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to protect public services and ruled out austerity measures, Al Jazeera reports.
The four-day conference comes just three months after Labour’s landslide victory over the Conservatives. While the party celebrates its triumph, it faces the delicate task of balancing its record with acknowledging the need for “difficult decisions” in the future.
Despite hinting at potential funding cuts and tax increases in the upcoming budget, Starmer has assured the public that he will not follow the path of austerity. He has reiterated his commitment to “doing the tough things first” but also pledged to ensure “our public services are functioning properly” and to shield working people from tax increases.
The conference offers a much-needed boost for Starmer, who has faced a week of negative headlines. An Opinium poll showed a significant drop in his approval rating since July, while reports of over £100,000 in gifts and hospitality received since 2019 raised eyebrows. Though these gifts did not breach parliamentary rules, the controversy emerged as the government urges Britons to accept short-term sacrifices to address the £22 billion “black hole” in public finances, which Starmer blames on the Conservatives.
In a more optimistic address, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner promised to “fix the foundations and put Britain back on the path to growth.” Foreign Secretary David Lammy also gave a rousing speech, chanting “Britain is back.”
Starmer maintains that his government has achieved more in 11 weeks than the previous government in 11 years, citing ambitious homebuilding targets, the establishment of a publicly owned green energy investment body, and recruitment efforts for police officers and teachers.
He argues that tough decisions are necessary to address the financial deficit, a claim disputed by the Conservatives.
