Overview

• In his Liverpool keynote, the prime minister said Britain faces a "fork in the road," declaring a "fight for the soul of our country" and accusing Nigel Farage of running down Britain and profiting from grievance.
• Starmer announced an NHS "online hospital" from 2027 designed to create millions of extra appointments, with patients able to access prescriptions, referrals for scans and tests, and clinical advice via the NHS app.
• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out tougher rules for permanent residency, extending the route to 10 years and requiring high-standard English, community volunteering, sustained work tracked by National Insurance, no benefits claims, and exclusion for criminal records.
• Reform UK pushed back on Labour’s criticism, with policy chief Zia Yusuf saying polls show Reform leading and rejecting the "racist" label on its immigration agenda, which includes deporting small‑boat arrivals and stripping the right to remain from many legal residents.
• Starmer’s reset comes as polling puts Reform ahead and Labour grapples with weak growth and high inflation, with Rachel Reeves warning of tough budget choices under harsh global headwinds.