Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will give a major speech in Liverpool (Image: Getty)
The Prime Minister will attempt to reset his beleaguered government with a speech promising to “build a new Britain”.
At Labour’s autumn conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir will defend taking unpopular decisions, such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners, by insisting everyone will benefit in the end.
He will repeatedly emphasise the party’s commitment to “working people” and promise to work to “retain the privilege of serving their interests”.
Silver Voices director Dennis Reed said workers were being prioritised over pensioners.
He said: “Why are working people and families being prioritised? Of course, they are extremely important but so are older people.
“It is like we are being cast aside. We are no longer worth prioritising as far as the government is concerned.
“Who is speaking for us? We are the only group that is having a cut in living standards this winter.
“They keep making the same old lame arguments about why they are doing this.”
Sir Keir has faced a difficult first conference as Prime Minister after protests by the trades unions over his winter fuel cuts and continuing revelations about the donations he and his Cabinet have received.
After a fall in business and consumer confidence sparked warnings the government could talk the country into a recession, Sir Keir will try to set a more upbeat tone.
He will set out plans to “build a new Britain”, insisting the tough decisions he is taking for the short term are the first step on the journey of “national renewal”.
The Prime Minister will promise to put the “country first, party second” and insist his desire is to unite the whole country by creating “a Britain built to last, built with respect and built with pride.”
Sir Keir will say: “The politics of national renewal are collective. They involve a shared struggle. A project that says, to everyone, this will be tough in the short-term, but in the long-term – it’s the right thing to do for our country. And we all benefit from that.”
The Prime Minister will say the short-term pain of “tough decisions” will mean long-term gain, insisting three will be higher living standards and lower waiting lists.
“The truth is that if we take tough long-term decisions now, if we stick to the driving purpose behind everything we do: higher economic growth – so living standards rise in every community; our NHS facing the future – waiting lists at your hospital down; safer streets in your community; stronger borders; more opportunities for your children; clean British energy powering your home; making our country more secure… then that light at the end of this tunnel, that Britain that belongs to you, we get there much more quickly.”
He will add: “I know this country is exhausted by and with politics. I know that the cost-of-living crisis drew a veil over the joy and wonder in our lives and that people want respite and relief, and may even have voted Labour for that reason. Our project has not and never will change.
“I changed the Labour Party to restore it to the service of working people. And that is exactly what we will do for Britain. But I will not do it with easy answers. I will not do it with false hope.”
The Prime Minister will claim that he has delivered more in 11 weeks than the previous administration did in 14 years.
He will add: “A Government of Service must act in everything it does to show – to the working people of this country, that politics can be a force for good, that it can be on the side of truth and justice, and that it can secure a better life for your family through the steady but uncompromising work of service.
“Make no mistake, the work of change has begun. Planning – reformed. Doctors – back in theatre. New solar projects. New offshore wind projects. The onshore ban – lifted. Great British Energy – launched. One-word Ofsted judgements – ended. MPs second jobs – banned. A Border Security Command. A National Wealth Fund – getting Britain Building Again. The Renters Reform Bill – stopping no fault evictions. The Railway Services Bill – bringing our railways back into public ownership.
“And we’re only just getting started.”
Sir Keir will again attack the Conservatives and try to lay the blame for his winter fuel cuts on a £22 billion shortfall in the public finances.
He will add: “It will be hard. That’s not rhetoric, it’s reality. It’s not just that financial black hole, the £22bn of unfunded spending commitments, concealed from our country by the Tories, it’s not just the societal black hole – our decimated public services leaving communities held together by little more than good will – it’s also the political black hole.
“Just because we all want low taxes and good public services, does not mean that the iron law of properly funding policies can be ignored. We have seen the damage that does, and I will not let that happen again. I will not let Tory economic recklessness hold back the working people of this country.“
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Heartbreaking chart showing how Labour has wrecked retirement for millions of pensioners
Sky News have shared a chart from a charity showing calls about pensions since the election (Image: Independent Age)
A worrying new graph shows how calls to a charity for the elderly helpline have rocketed since Labour came to power on July 4.
Heartbreakingly pensioners are seeking more and more advice as Chancellor Rachel Reeves axed winter fuel payments for millions and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned of a painful Autumn Budget on October 30.
In the chart above a huge spike in calls can clearly be seen for the months of July and August with the numbers phoning for advice far higher than the same time last year.
In data shared with Sky News, charity Independent Age revealed they are seeing more and more pensioners coming to them worried about “drastic” government cutbacks.
Independent Age chief executive Joanna Elson CBE told the news channel: “This data from our helpline clearly shows that many people in later life are worried about the UK government’s decision to limit the winter fuel payment to those that receive pension credit.
New figures show pensioners are potentially worse off under Labour (Image: Getty )
“The people we speak to are frightened about losing a vital lifeline this winter, many are struggling on a low income and will be forced to make drastic cutbacks.
“Others tell us it is the first time they have reached out for support, as the winter ahead feels very bleak.”
From this winter, only people on pension credit or certain other benefits will receive winter fuel payments, worth up to £300, while about 10 million others are set to be stripped of the allowance.
Labour has claimed the move is necessary to help fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances inherited from the Conservative government.
Pensioners have been hit with winter fuel cuts thanks to Labour (Image: Getty )
Kevin McGrath, 81, a former social worker and Catholic monk, from Corby, Northants, told Sky News he was “deeply concerned about the winter” and that taking the winter fuel payments from pensioners was “evil”.
He added: “Of all the wealth in Britain, they target the ones who have very little in life.”
“I fully understand that the government has difficult decisions to make, but why are they starting at the bottom, why don’t they start at the top. It’s evil. It’s a crime.”
A government spokesperson told Sky News it is “committed to supporting pensioners”, adding over 12 million people will see their state pension rise by £1,700 this parliament because of the triple lock.
They said: “Given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, it’s right we target support to those who need it most.
“We urge anyone who thinks they may be entitled to pension credit to check their eligibility and have already seen a 115 percent increase in claims following the launch of our awareness campaign.”
