If you believe the media, Labour is in crisis and its leader is under threat from within his own party.
I headed to Liverpool on the eve of the party conference expecting a subdued mood and a slow start. That’s not what we got and this evening my head is still spinning.
Keir Starmer and a succession of ministers came out fighting.
Over and over the list of achievements was punched out: not two million more NHS appointments as promised but five million more; the Employment Rights Act; a pay rise for three million of the lowest paid; the Hillsborough Law; childcare from nine months to four years and the list went on.
Keir Starmer was pumped and passionate as he reeled off the wins. Despite this proof that Labour is delivering he warned of a generational battle: “the fight of our lives” for Labour’s patriotic national renewal and against the toxic division and decline that Reform would bring.
Earlier Labour’s new chair, Anna Turley admitted that the first year in power had been about fixing the mess the Conservatives left. She promised that from now on the government would move forward faster to improve the lives of millions of Britons.
Liz Kendal banged out the list of achievements again. Her own favourite: free school meals for an extra 500,000 kids with many getting them during holidays. But she was blunt too: turning it round was never going to happen overnight and lasting change can only be built on sound economics. Labour economics, not the fantasy economics of Reform. The Science, Tech and Innovation Secretary went on to warn that we had to hold our nerve and our values.
The Business and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, was buzzing about banning Zero Hours Contracts and “Fire and Rehire”. He had admissions too: “Governing is hard, and sometimes we’ve made it more difficult than it actually is” he told us. “No s**t sherlock” I thought. There probably wasn’t a delegate in the room who didn’t agree with that.
There was light relief from wise-cracking Health Secretary Wes Streeting with gags about Jeremey Corbyn’s new party and the Reform Conference. He had a reminder of new doctors, nurses and dental appointments. But he emphasised another repeated theme – a message to immigrants: “Farage may want to send you home. But, as far as we are concerned, you are home”.
By end of the pre-conference briefings there probably wasn’t a delegate who wasn’t cheered by the message and the passion – particularly from the party leader – and who isn’t hoping he and his team build on it in the next three days.
Adam Chadwick 27/9/25