Labour opens its conference with a call for hope

Labour's annual conference opened in Liverpool on Sunday, the first since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, with the party's leadership promising a message of hope after a turbulent year in politics.

The conference runs until Wednesday. Mr Burnham, who succeeded Sir Keir Starmer in July after being elected Labour leader unopposed, will give his keynote speech on Tuesday. Its theme is that it is time for Britain to hope again.

A new Prime Minister's first conference

Arriving in Liverpool on Saturday, Mr Burnham said he wanted to end the decade of drift and division that the country had experienced since Brexit. The former Mayor of Greater Manchester has built his political identity around the North of England and around devolving power away from Westminster, and he is expected to return to both themes during the week.

His arrival at the top of the party followed heavy losses for Labour in the local elections in May, when Reform UK and the Greens made large gains, and a period of pressure on his predecessor.

What to expect this week

Ministers are using the conference to set out their priorities before the Budget later in the autumn. The Chancellor, John Healey, speaks on Monday, and a series of Cabinet ministers will address the hall during the week, alongside hundreds of fringe events run by charities, unions, businesses and campaign groups.

Mr Burnham has said he wants to use his speech to say more about his plans for a national care service, one of the ideas most closely associated with him.

Tough choices ahead

The mood in Liverpool is upbeat, but the Government faces difficult decisions. The war involving Iran has pushed up energy and fuel prices, and higher inflation and weaker growth have made the public finances harder to balance. Economists expect the Budget to involve hard choices on tax and spending.

Birmingham next

The conference season moves to Birmingham next week, when the Conservative Party gathers at the International Convention Centre from 4 to 7 October. Thousands of delegates, journalists and visitors are expected in the city centre, with a secure zone around the venue, as at previous conferences in the city.