Keir Starmer Urges Labour Conference to Embrace Growth as a Unifying Force

Published: 30 September ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Keir Starmer is set to address the Labour party conference in Liverpool, urging members to view economic growth as the solution to the divisions amplified by the populist right. Under mounting pressure to adopt bolder policies, the Prime Minister will emphasise that an expanding economy can either strengthen the nation or deepen societal fractures, depending on how its benefits are distributed across communities.

As the government navigates a challenging fiscal environment, with looming decisions on taxation and public spending, Starmer will assert that improving living standards is essential to countering global volatility and domestic political fragmentation. In recent days, the Prime Minister has taken a more combative stance against the political right to reassure Labour MPs and party members that he is capable of confronting figures such as Nigel Farage.

“The defining mission of this government is to grow the economy, elevate living standards, and reshape wealth creation,” Starmer is expected to state. “Growth should reach not only the top but also the grassroots, putting more money in people’s pockets, improving their daily lives, and fostering economic security. But growth also serves as the antidote to division. How and where it benefits communities can either build unity or deepen rifts.”

The speech follows remarks by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who cautioned that the country faces “further tests” in the months ahead. Reeves indicated that upcoming budget decisions will be complicated by global economic pressures and long-term impacts from previous Conservative administrations. The Chancellor also suggested possible tax increases, including higher levies on gambling, while reaffirming Labour’s fiscal responsibility in managing the nation’s finances.

Darren Jones, the Prime Minister’s Chief Secretary, left open the possibility of adjustments to income tax, VAT, or National Insurance rates, highlighting that no decisions had yet been finalized. Meanwhile, Labour figures advocating for increased public spending were reminded by Reeves that abandoning fiscal prudence could have damaging consequences for the economy.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, a prominent figure with leadership aspirations, defended his interventions, stating that strong fiscal rules need not be inflexible and that strategic investments could be made to reduce long-term spending. Burnham emphasized his behind-the-scenes contributions to advancing the Hillsborough legislation, seeking to counter criticisms of disloyalty.

Starmer’s address will also highlight a “defining choice” facing the country: between decency and division. He is expected to draw inspiration from the legacy of the 1945 Labour government, urging the party to embrace a path of national renewal, while acknowledging that the journey will involve difficult and sometimes uncomfortable decisions.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, speaking at the conference, stressed that controlling migration and border security may require measures that challenge long-standing assumptions and legal frameworks. “Unless we have control over who enters and leaves the country, we cannot maintain the open, tolerant, and generous nation we aspire to be,” she said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to tough but necessary reforms.