Keir Starmer begs for support in conference speech saying 'it's difficult'

Keir Starmer will tell supporters they face "a fight for the soul of our country" against the forces of "division" as battles to save his premiership today. In a speech to a Labour conference dominated by speculation about his leadership, Sir Keir will plead with activists to back him even when the Government takes decisions "that will not always be comfortable for our party".

And he will attempt to summon the spirit of Clement Attlee, the Labour Prime Minister that led the reconstruction of Britain following the devastation of World War II, claiming the nation faces a challenge "every bit as big as rebuilding Britain after the war." But there was further criticism of the Government from Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor regarded by some as a potential replacement for Sir Keir, as Mr Burnham criticised the Government's controversial plans for a digital ID card.

The Mayor also told a conference event: "While the Government's done good things, I don't think it's come together yet as that powerful story of the future of Britain."

Meanwhile, Sir Keir was under fire last night from Conservatives and Reform UK, who accused him of plotting a second EU "surrender deal" to undermine Brexit.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Minister who negotiated Sir Keir's so-called "reset" with the EU in May, told a gathering of anti-Brexit activists that he had started work on "the next stage" and declared "there is more to do".

In his keynote speech to the Labour gathering in Liverpool, Sir Keir will issue a plea for support, telling activists: "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."

He is expected to say: "It is a test. 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."

Promising to "end decline, reform our public services, grow our economy from the grassroots", the Prime Minister will attempt to contrast Labour's commitment to "decency" with the values of his opponents.

Turning his fire on rivals such as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Sir Keir is expected to say: "We can all see our country faces a choice, a defining choice. Britain stands at a fork in the road. We can choose decency. Or we can choose division. Renewal or decline. A country - proud of its values, in control of its future or one that succumbs, against the grain of our history, to the politics of grievance."

But Labour's civil war continued as Mr Burnham used a conference event to criticise the Government's plans for a new digital ID, announced last week. Asked whether he backed the policy at a conference event, he said: "Not now."

The Mayor insisted reports he hoped to mount a leadership challenge were "inaccurate". But he also prepared the ground for a return to Parliament, an essential step before any potential leadership bid, as he refused to guarantee he would remain in his mayoralty for the rest of his term of office.

Opposition parties seized on comments by Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who said a new EU deal would cover energy policy, small businesses and "so much more".

Mr Thomas-Symonds told the Labour Movement for Europe rally at the conference that fresh agreements were planned after a "memorandum" in May extended access to British waters for European fishing vessels, kicked off work on a youth-mobility scheme and included a pledge to share more information to help fight crime and terrorism.

He said: "There is more to do. Firstly, delivering the deals that we agreed in May. But then further negotiation as well.

"Deeper co-operation on energy security to bring down prices. Further steps to make trade work for small businesses again. And so much more besides."

Mr Thomas-Symonds told the conference event: "I am proud that resetting the relationship with the European Union, our closest geographical allies, has been a central part in that. I am very proud to be now leading the next stage of our negotiation with the European Union."

The rally also heard from Trade Minister Chris Bryant, who confirmed plans for another deal as he called for measures making it easier for British musicians to tour EU countries. He said: "It's one of the things we definitely need to get over the line when it comes to the next EU-UK deal."

Conservatives said Labour had never accepted the decision to leave the EU and Dame Priti Patel MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, highlighted plans announced in August to "align" with EU food and drink regulations, as well as Chancellor Rachel Reeves's call for an "ambitious" youth migration deal.

Dame Priti said: "We all know Chief Remainer Keir Starmer has never got over Brexit. It was obvious he would try to undo the referendum result as soon as he got into power.

"First came the surrender over food regulations. Then, just last week, his Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for relaxed immigration rules.

"And now Starmer's EU Minister is talking about a 'reset' in relations. We all know what that means: an ever-closer relationship in which Britain is forced to follow EU diktats. A betrayal.

"This Labour government want to take us into the EU by the back door. The Conservatives will not allow that to happen."

Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: "We have a pro-remain cabinet led by a Prime Minister who tried to block the democratic will of 17.4 million Brexit voters. This country cannot afford yet another surrender deal with the failing no growth net zero obsessed EU."