Starmer to pit Labour against Reform in conference closing speech | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer will say Britain stands at a fork in the road as he pits Labour against Reform in his conference closing speech.

The prime minister will use his address at 2pm on Tuesday to say the UK can choose decency or division, renewal or decline, be in control of the future or succumb “to the politics of grievance”.

“It is a test,” he is expected to tell the second autumn Labour conference of his premiership.

“A fight for the soul of our country, every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war, and we must all rise to this challenge.

“And yet we need to be clear that our path, the path of renewal, it’s long, it’s difficult, it requires decisions that are not cost-free or easy. Decisions – that will not always be comfortable for our party.”

Sir Keir will say “at the end of this hard road there will be a new country”, which he will put forward as fairer and “a land of dignity and respect”.

He will promise that everybody will be seen and valued, wealth will be created “in every community”, and working people will be in control of public services.

The “mindless bureaucracy that choked enterprise” will be removed “so we can build and keep on building”, the PM will pledge.

He will say that he believes Britain “can come together” despite people telling him it cannot.

“We can pursue a shared destination,” he is expected to say.

“We can unite around a common good. That’s my ambition, the purpose of this government. End decline, reform our public services, grow our economy from the grassroots.”

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The conference has been dominated by a sharpening of language and policies in reaction to Reform, which has been leading in the polls for a while.

The latest Ipsos poll, published on Sunday, had the two parties neck and neck, with 38% saying they would prefer a Labour government led by Sir Keir and 35% for Reform led by Nigel Farage.

Ahead of Sir Keir’s final speech, cabinet members will also address the conference.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Health Secretary Wes Streeting will all make speeches ahead of the PM.

On Monday, 10 cabinet ministers addressed the conference from the main stage, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who argued that Reform presents a threat to the British economy.

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