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1h ago

Reeves Rebukes Burnham as Labour Conference Opens With Unity Plea and Reform Fight

Reform’s polling lead sharpens pressure on Keir Starmer to unify his party.

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Labour's conference in Liverpool will see Starmer turn his fire on 'toxic' Reform. But some expect it to be his last conference as PM
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Overview

  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves rejected Andy Burnham’s claim that Britain must get beyond being “in hock to the bond markets,” warning the government relies on investors to fund its debt and stressing fiscal credibility.
  • Party chair Anna Turley said many Labour MPs are frustrated by Burnham’s leadership manoeuvrings and urged members to rally behind Starmer as the conference begins in Liverpool.
  • Burnham has promoted a ‘Manchesterism’ agenda of business-friendly aspirational socialism and acknowledged that some MPs have privately contacted him about a potential leadership run, while no contest is under way.
  • Starmer vowed to confront Reform UK, which recent YouGov modelling projects would win the most seats in an election held now, and he framed the group as harmful to the national interest.
  • Ahead of a difficult autumn and a looming Budget, Reeves said she wants the OBR to score an EU youth mobility scheme, while Starmer has signalled openness to measures on child poverty such as reviewing the two‑child benefit cap.