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  • Ed Miliband – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    Ed Miliband – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    The speech made by Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, in Liverpool on 28 September 2026.

    Thank you friends and can I thank you for your support.

    And let me start by echoing Wes’ words earlier. Events at RAF Fairford yesterday are a reminder of the threats our country faces.

    I want to thank our security services, Armed Forces and police for the work they did yesterday and they do all year round to help keep our country safe.

    Friends, we will always stand up for our security against those who would do us harm.

    And friends, I am so proud to be your Labour Foreign Secretary, and to support Andy Burnham, our Prime Minister, who has put Labour values back at the heart of our Labour Government.

    I want to start today by telling you about the spirit that animates my work as Foreign Secretary, driven by two refugees a world away from us here today.

    The first of them walked 100km from Brussels to Ostend with his father, leaving behind his mother and his sister, to take one of the last boats to Britain to flee the Nazi invasion.

    He learned English, he joined the Royal Navy and fought fascism. You know, he would tell stories of being at sea watching the lights of the D-Day landings and he would say it softly, but I know he always felt an incredible sense of pride that he had played his part in defeating the Nazis.

    The other refugee spent her childhood in hiding in Poland. She faced experiences that no child should face – the loss of her father in a concentration camp, as well as separation from her mother and her sister.

    She only survived because, unlike 60 family members, she was saved by the heroism of the bravest people. Ordinary people who did extraordinary things.

    Then she got to Britain after the war as a teenager, learned English and built a life.

    Friends, I am sure you have guessed this, those two refugees were my father and mother. My dad and my mum. And I want to start today by saying their history, my family history, means it is the honour of my life to be your Labour Foreign Secretary.

    My parents found sanctuary in Britain, but they also found something else. As fascism engulfed Europe, they found in Britain a country that was a beacon of light against the darkness.

    A country that stood for fundamental values – freedom, democracy, the rule of law. A country that was rebuilt after the war by the 1945 Labour Government, and with other nations, that government built the world anew.

    Think what that generation achieved. That Labour Government led the way in holding the Nazis responsible for their crimes. That Labour Government helped create NATO. That Labour Government ratified the convention on human rights. And that Labour Government led the way in establishing the United Nations – an international system built by our values, Labour values, British values.

    Friends, we should be all proud of that legacy.

    And I come to this conference today to tell you it is time to roll up our sleeves all over again. Because once again the world order needs rebuilding anew.

    We need to be honest about the world we confront. War has returned to Europe. Democratic norms are under threat as they haven’t been for generations. The international rule of law is being brazenly flouted. New threats have emerged from the climate crisis to AI.

    There is only one response to these challenges – to fight for our values. The values my parents saw in Britain. Values which today are more important than ever.

    Fighting for those values of democracy, the rule of the law, protection for rights and freedoms, is essential to tackle injustice and suffering.

    But hear me well when I say this, it is also the only way to fight for our interests as the only real route to stability in the world and therefore peace and prosperity.

    You see, what we understand is we fight for our values and our interests as a country together. So just like in 1945, now it falls to this generation, this Labour Government, to play our part defending and advancing Labour values, Britain’s values, the values this party has always fought for.

    And friends, this must begin by confronting the fact that war has returned to Europe with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. A war which has already seen more than 100,000 Ukrainian civilians and soldiers killed, as well as hundreds of thousands of Russians.

    A war on our doorstep. The worst conflict in Europe since World War Two.

    And here’s the thing, this is not just a war which is killing innocents. It is a war of terror.

    The Kremlin says it wants to “freeze” the Ukrainians into defeat. Last winter temperatures in Kyiv reached minus 25 degrees and power was interrupted almost every day. Drone warfare leaves people afraid to go out onto the streets.

    Friends, this war matters to all of us. If our values mean anything, they mean standing firm against this invasion.

    The future security of all of Europe is on the line in this fight. If Putin wins, we would have allowed war and force to beat sovereignty and self-determination on our continent.

    Now, I am proud that since 2022, under successive governments, Britain has stepped up. Stepped up our military aid, stepped up our humanitarian support, and the British people have stepped up too, taking in Ukrainian refugees.

    Friends, I say today we will never, never give in to Russia’s threats that we must stand aside and abandon the people of Ukraine. And we will always, always stand up to Russia’s threats wherever they are.

    Today I salute the courage of the people of Ukraine. We send our solidarity to President Zelenskyy and his government. And we say with one voice we will stand with the people of Ukraine until they prevail.

    We are part of this fight as humanitarians, but also as proud Europeans. This is our continent. And if there is one lesson that I have seen demonstrated to me again and again in this job, it is this – Europe is not just our geography but so much more.

    It is how we pursue our values, from climate to the Middle East. It is how we pursue our interests, from trade to defence. It’s where we build and protect our alliances, so it is not simply Britain acting alone but Britain with others.

    And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference, our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union.

    Of course, our alliance with the United States in trade, defence and security remains essential, including as part of NATO. But Europe also needs to do more to defend itself.

    That is why investment in our defence is an absolutely core part of this government’s foreign policy. And as we speak, British forces are deployed across the globe, from Cyprus to the Falklands, Estonia to Somalia.

    Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, serving in operations across the world to maintain our security, keep the peace, and uphold our values. Friends, let us all applaud them today.

    And we must be prepared to confront all the security threats that Europe and the world faces.

    We will stand up to prevent a nuclear Iran through economic sanctions. We will act against the proxies of Iran. And we will continue to isolate Iran so that they reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is so essential to tackling the cost of living crisis here at home.

    We also face new threats in today’s world. This summer’s heatwaves and wildfires in Europe are just the latest wake up call about the climate crisis.

    Friends, we know the longer we wait the greater the costs. We know the effects will spread across borders. And we know that future generations will hold us in infamy if we leave them with climate disaster unaddressed.

    So let us therefore ask each and every party, where do you stand on tackling the climate crisis? Where do you stand on defending our way of life?

    And I say to those parties that deny, delay, and dissemble on the climate threat, your position would leave our country unsafe and threaten our national security.

    And I pledge to you, we will lead the efforts across the world to put climate at the heart of national security.

    And friends, we will also confront the urgent risks we face from AI. The technological progress offered by AI as we see in our daily lives is inspiring. But the threat it poses, according to its own inventors, is daunting.

    Now some are calling for us to act, but other tech companies are saying we should leave it all to them.

    But friends, the lesson of history is that we cannot leave it to corporations to put in place the guardrails to serve the public interest. It is neither their purpose nor their motive. Theirs is to maximise profits. Friends, we cannot and will not allow that to come at the expense of our children or indeed humanity.

    That is why as part of our G20 presidency next year, this country will lead the efforts to manage AI so we keep our country and our world safe, and I say no tech titan should stand in our way.

    And as we think about our role in the world, we will never be silent about injustice and suffering.

    Let us state the reality about the Middle East. The only route to peace is two states, a secure Israel and a secure Palestine, with freedom, dignity and self-determination for both peoples.

    We all know how far away we are from that.

    Hamas’ murderous attack on October 7th united the vast majority of the world in rightful condemnation.

    We stand, I say, against antisemitism wherever we find it and in whatever form. And this party will always recognise the threats Israel faces and stand emphatically against those who seek its destruction.

    But this cannot justify the suffering the Netanyahu government has inflicted in Gaza and the West Bank. This suffering is a stain on the conscience of the world.

    And I want to say to the millions of people in this country, and indeed elsewhere who have been moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people, we hear you. You were right. And under Andy’s leadership, we have reset our approach.

    We call out ethnic cleansing by the settler terrorists in the West Bank. We call out the evidence of war crimes In Gaza. We call out Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. And we match words with actions.

    We will ban the import of goods from illegal settlements. We will disrupt the supply lines of British finance, British construction and British services for illegal settlements.

    And when it comes to the attempt to destroy the two-state solution, this party, this movement, this government, says we will not let you succeed.

    And friends, our argument is not with the people of Israel, but with the actions of its government.

    My grandmother was given shelter and sanctuary after the Second World War by Israel.

    And the bonds of solidarity between the British people and those who yearn for peace in Israel and Palestine are too strong to be broken. And our decision to act mobilised the international community, country after country.

    And you see, there is a lesson here. This is how we make change happen in today’s world. Doing what is right and galvanising others to act too.

    And there is also a wider lesson for our party from Israel and Palestine about how we have changed our approach. As a government we can, must and we will succeed because of, not in spite of, our progressive values.

    We are proud to be Labour. Proud to believe in changing the world for the better. Proud to believe in international solidarity.

    We stand up for what is right. We act on what we believe. We are not here to accept the status quo, but to change it.

    And that confidence, that belief in boldness, is the change that Andy has brought to our party and our government and it is why I am so proud of his leadership.

    And we will apply our principles to other conflicts in the world, including the worst humanitarian crisis there is – the conflict in Sudan. Millions displaced, tens of thousands killed, malnutrition rampant.

    Friends, we will use every diplomatic and political tool to address the suffering of its people. And we will use our leadership to reform the international financial system so it properly serves the developing world.

    So many countries you know, and I meet this when I meet foreign ministers, so many countries face the triple challenges of climate breakdown, debt burden – unsustainable debt burden – and poverty.

    In two weeks time, I will attend the annual meetings of the World Bank, where I will use Britain’s seat on the board to drive change.

    And friends, I promise this. We will use our G20 presidency next year to meet our responsibilities and mobilise the world, building on the great achievements on debt and development of the last Labour Government.

    Friends, from security and defence to Israel and Palestine, to Europe, to climate, to AI, this is our foreign policy. Stronger in our values, bolder in our action, building alliances across the world.

    Now friends, I began by talking about my parents. And after my Mum died at the end of May of this year, I received a letter from a friend. It said she had a special quality that he recognised from his own family. Resilient idealism.

    Resilient idealism. I love that phrase. Resilient because, let’s be honest, it is hard to change the world. You get knocked down – don’t I know it – you get knocked down and you have to pick yourself up.

    Idealism because for all the world’s complexities and compromises, Labour exists to stand up for what is right.

    Labour is here to defend the principles that my parents admired about our country and that means so much to me now.

    You see my parents didn’t just observe a country fighting for values, they taught me that I have a responsibility to fight for them too.

    There is this phrase that people use about Holocaust survivors – survivor’s guilt. I think my parents had something else. Survivor’s responsibility.

    Survivor’s Responsibility to pass on the message to the generations that come next that we are here to leave the world a better place than we found it. To never walk by on the other side. To never be bystanders to oppression and injustice.

    Those are the reasons I joined this party and so many of you did too.

    You know, they say that as you age, you become more cynical. Why? Not me. Not you. Not us.

    I believe in our ability to change our country and the world for the better now more than ever.

    And I promise you, I promise you that every day as Foreign Secretary, every day as your Labour Foreign Secretary, I will fight for your values. Labour values. Britain’s values.

    Thank you so much.

  • Lucy Powell – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    Lucy Powell – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    The speech made by Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in Liverpool on 27 September 2026.

    Thank you, Conference, it’s great to be here at my first conference as your Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

    I mean what a year it has been. A lot has happened since I last stood here for the hustings last year.

    But some things, conference, never change. I’m still raving after my DJ set at the LGBT disco last night. People are still trying to get hold of Oasis tickets, me included. And Andy Burnham’s still on the front cover of the New Statesman.

    But the biggest constant of all? You, our brilliant members, who embody the mission of this movement and support us every day.

    That same spirit of service runs through our General Secretary too. Thank you to Hollie Ridley for your leadership. You’ve served this party and movement relentlessly for 14 years and made a huge contribution to our general election victory. We’re forever grateful. Thank you, Hollie.

    And to Joe Fortune – our new General Secretary – I can’t wait to get stuck in working with you working as we build towards the next election. Joe – like me, you have big shoes to fill – shoes worn by strong, working-class, pioneering women of our movement. And in Angela’s case, make that many pairs.

    And conference, can we take a moment to thank Angela Rayner for being a brilliant Deputy Leader for more than five years – from opposition into government. She continues to inspire us.

    Conference, when I asked for your support last year, I promised I would be your voice at the top of our party. I said I would help us get the politics right, to show our values more strongly, and to give people a reason to believe and trust in Labour.

    I’ve taken my ‘Lucy Listens’ right across the country, which has helped to shape what we’re doing in government. It’s been a time of big change, but we’ve come out stronger and more united. Our mission remains; hope and optimism.

    Because we believe that life can be better, that things need – and can – change. That’s what progressive politics has always been about. It’s why we are the party of hope.

    Out of the ruins of the Second World War, we didn’t accept that devastation meant we couldn’t be radical. Instead, our labour forefathers created our beloved NHS and the welfare state.

    In the 1960s, we didn’t accept that the white heat of technology was a threat, we saw it as an opportunity to give rise to huge social mobility and progress.

    And in the face of the Tory recession of the 1990s, we didn’t accept those who said that unemployment and low pay were a price worth paying, we introduced the national minimum wage, statutory maternity pay and the New Deal for young people.

    That’s what the Labour Party does.

    And today, in the face of difficult economic and global political headwinds, we’re determined to fix the big challenges politics has ducked for too long. We look forward, with optimism and hope. Our heads held high, our shoulders back. Our values guiding us every step of the way.

    That’s what you, our members and activists – the life and soul of our movement – have been helping us to deliver.

    And you should take huge pride in what you have helped this Labour government to deliver.

    Free school meals for over 3 million children.

    Day one rights to sick pay for workers.

    Rail back into public control. And local buses too – one for Andy.

    We’ve ended exploitative zero hours contracts.

    We’ve lifted the two-child benefit cap, lifting half a million children out of poverty.

    Brought in the biggest social housing programme in a generation.

    Recognised the state of Palestine.

    Shown global leadership in Ukraine, and the Middle East and beyond.

    We’ve reset relations with Europe.

    We’ve reduced waiting times and recruited more teachers.

    Set up Great British energy and raced towards clean power.

    We’ve ended no fault evictions.

    Boosted pay for the lowest paid and cut VAT from energy bills.

    And – yes – conference, we’ve finally ended hereditary peers sitting in the House of Lords.

    These are good Labour things we should shout about.

    But, conference, doing all this and more, isn’t enough on its own. It clearly hasn’t been. The elections this year told us a different story. We lost hundreds of great Labour representatives across the UK. There’s no sugar-coating it. We let you down and you deserved better. And I’m sorry.

    Because we also have to make the argument and win it. We are in a big battle of ideas, a battle of values, a battle for attention. It’s no good anymore just diligently getting on with the job. We have to show purpose, underpinned by values.

    And that’s what Andy Burnham’s leadership is giving us – showing us the why, not just the what. Making and winning the big arguments. Leadership, purpose and values.

    Let’s seize this opportunity we have with this second hearing, to really punch home that Labour story. I’m really excited about what’s in store, I hope you are too?

    Because conference, we all know that the extremes of British politics are seeking to tear our communities apart, to pit neighbour against neighbour, thriving on fear and division, but won’t let them win.

    Nigel Farage wants us to all blame immigrants for our country’s ills. He wants a race to the bottom on workers’ rights and deregulation. Especially for his Billionaire crypto mates. He believes in trickle-down economics, that never actually trickles down.

    Conference, he’s just a modern-day love child of Enoch Powell and Margaret Thatcher. And quite bizarrely, for someone who seems to hate foreigners so much, he really does love their money, doesn’t he?

    And as for the Tories … well, they seem somewhere between an identity crisis and collective amnesia.

    But we won’t forget – the British people won’t forget – the damage they did in 14 years of government. They left this country worse off, our public services hollowed out, and now they’ve got the nerve to lecture us on the crises they created. They left the prisons completely full. They tanked the economy. They left 5 million people on the NHS waiting lists. Forgive me I’m not going to be taking any lessons from them.

    Our opponents are locked in the arguments of the past, while we look to the future. And that’s how we’ll win, and I am confident there’s a majority in this country who agree.

    Conference, I’m also here today as your Education Secretary, your Labour Education Secretary. And what an enormous honour that is. It’s definitely the best job in government.

    Almost my entire family are in education – many of them are here today too – so I get no shortage of advice. I’m sure I’ll get full written feedback on my speech later as well.

    Our Labour values of opportunity for all, of a better life, of progress and advancement are channelled through our collective commitment to education. It’s the passport to success, to fulfilment, to life.

    Education is hope.

    In many ways, I lead the Department of Hope.

    Conference, there’s also a big argument that we’ve got win in education too. It’s an argument about the future vs the past.

    It was exactly 30 years ago at this conference that Tony Blair declared the Labour Party’s three priorities were education, education, education.

    That declaration, that commitment, drove significant and sustained improvement. Not only through our school system but with the establishment of the great Sure Start programme. We transformed millions of lives and gave a whole new generation new hope of new possibilities.

    That’s the power of a Labour mission for education. We won the argument then and we will win it again.

    Our promise that every child matters; our belief that no young person should be left behind, our commitment that everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

    And that in this fast-changing, technological age, we have a duty to equip young people with the knowledge, know-how and skills they need to thrive.

    Not a one-size-fits-all system that sets some up for failure by only offering a narrow view of what good is, nor one stuck in the past, unwilling and unable to adapt.

    Conference, our schools are now some of the best in the world and we should celebrate that. But we can also recognise that it’s not working for everyone.

    Too many left behind, without the passport they need to go further. The disadvantage gap remains stubbornly wide. The gap between regions is widening. A crisis in special educational needs support.

    And at the last general election, 1.5 million children were persistently absent from school.

    And today, over 1 million young people – all educated under the Tories – not in education, training or employment.

    These are the warnings.

    Literacy and numeracy will always be the core, and we’re doing internationally well in these areas. But the Head of PISA also said that too many young people think school is a waste of time and don’t feel they belong. It’s become a straitjacket for too many.

    And this is what happens when children and young people lose hope. And hope matters.

    Now look conference, you might have seen Michael Gove and his acolytes criticising us. He said I was bringing back stupid.

    Well, I’ll tell you what’s stupid, only choosing to see one-side of the story. I’ll tell what’s stupid, being stuck in the past whilst the world changes fast. And I’ll tell you what’s stupid, claiming to be evidence-led while saying you’ve had enough of the experts.

    Michael Gove wants all the plaudits for the good bits but wants to take no responsibility for the bad. I think Ofsted would say he Requires Improvement. Although of course under the new framework he’d need attention. Let’s not give him anymore of that because he loves it too much.

    We’re not bringing back stupid, conference – we’re bringing back hope.

    A Department for Hope with a prospectus for change.

    If a young person believes that education will open doors for them, they’ll turn up. They work hard. But when they don’t, they check out.

    We have to be relevant as well as outstanding. More pathways not fewer, more choice not less. Taking down barriers, not putting them up. Engaging not disconnecting. Closing the gap between the classroom and work. Always high standards but looking to the future not the past.

    That’s why I am putting technical and vocational qualifications on a par with academic ones.

    We’re introducing new vocational GCSEs alongside T Levels and V Levels and new apprenticeships post 16.

    High quality, high esteem, underpinned by national standards in subjects in demand for the future economy. I’m ending the snobbery towards technical education.

    Not a two-tier system, far from it, but technical excellence alongside academic excellence too.

    More practical assessment in practical subjects, who knew! And strong oracy and speaking skills throughout. And more work experience.

    Because in the AI age, high levels of knowledge and skills will be even more important, but there will be some jobs that AI will never be able to do either.

    We will change how schools are measured to incentivise that broader offer.

    We’ll expand access to enrichment activities – from music groups to debating societies, to engineering and sports.

    We’ll go further on the Curriculum Review to allow more time to go deeper and for richer experiences.

    We’ll tackle the SEND crisis, with early intervention and help, more investment to support children, families and schools. Reforming the system so it’s refocused on inclusion and improving outcomes for children.

    And beyond schools, we’ll build on the legacy of Sure Start, giving every child the best start in life.

    And let’s not underestimate what a gamechanger we’re delivering here – 30 hours of free childcare from nine months old and free breakfast clubs rolled out across the country.

    And on that point, can I just pay tribute to my predecessor, Bridget Phillipson, for the work she did to make that happen. Thank you, Bridget.

    And as part of our plan to put care at the heart of everything we do, we’ll tackle profiteering in children’s care and ensure loving, enduring relationships.

    Further Education was decimated by the Tories – we’ll reverse that decline. Because further education is the link between school and work.

    We’ll make sure that young people today see the value in going to university. The future requires more not less highly qualified young people.

    Conference, we will win that argument again, that education needs to confidently face the future.

    We can only be the Department for Hope though, if we take everyone with us. We have amazing teachers, school leaders and support staff doing their best, every day, to help children thrive. It’s not a job it’s a calling.

    I will always value school leaders and the school workforce. And their well-being. I understand the job you do, even in some of the most challenging contexts.

    And I want a culture built on respect, collaboration, not competition. Self-improving and self-sustaining. Communities of schools working together for their community of children.

    And conference I will establish our School Support Staff Negotiating Body to ensure all staff get the recognition and reward they deserve.

    These are the arguments we need to win.

    Conference, the world is changing fast, and childhood is changing with it. In this technological revolution, it’s the next generation that has to thrive in it – not the last one. It’s our job to help them navigate it – safely, with confidence and with relish.

    The world has never been more connected, yet children have never felt more isolated. Childhood itself needs reimaging in this new era. Play, exploring, freedom, belonging and happiness.

    So, my Department for Hope, this government of hope, will put the children’s hopes at the very heart of everything we do.

    Because that’s what a Labour government does – it doesn’t just manage decline, it gives people something to believe in again.

    The country’s crying out for it.

    And together, conference, we will bring it back.

    Thank you very much.

  • Wes Streeting – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    Wes Streeting – 2026 Speech to Labour Party Conference

    The speech made by Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Defence, in Liverpool on 28 September 2026.

    Thank you, Jack – that was absolutely brilliant. You keep being ambitious and as for my own, like HMS Agamemnon last week, I think that ship has sailed.

    But you Jack are a great example of the future that a stronger Britain can offer the next generation.

    Jack’s proud of where he’s from.

    Proud of where he works.

    Proud of the contribution he is making to our nation.

    So to Jack and all the young men and women who are building a stronger, wealthier, safer Britain – thank you.

    Given events, you will understand that before getting into my speech today I want to say something about yesterday’s events around RAF Fairford.

    You will understand there is a live police investigation and I can’t provide much further detail than that which is reported.

    But I do want to say that our friendship with America is the closest alliance of any two nations on Earth, and we will always stand together against those who hate our freedom and those who wish us harm.

    What we saw yesterday from our security services, our armed forces, and our police, was just a small glimpse of the extraordinary work they do every day, around the clock and around the world, behind the scenes and without recognition, to keep our country safe.

    To all of them, from all of us, thank you.

    It is great to be back in Liverpool.

    Last year, I stood on this stage and spoke about a great legacy of the Attlee government.

    Our National Health Service.

    Built on a simple principle: to provide freedom from fear – fear that illness would bring financial ruin.

    And that Labour government built another great institution too – NATO – based on the same principle: to provide freedom from fear – fear that tyranny would once again bring catastrophe to Europe.

    Bevan created the NHS. 

    Bevin founded NATO.

    Two institutions born of the same generation.

    Rooted in the same belief in security.

    One built security at home.

    The other built security with our allies abroad.

    And beneath them both lies the same conviction: solidarity. 

    The belief that an injury to one is an injury to all.

    But it is easy to believe in solidarity when it costs nothing.

    The test comes when another nation needs us.

    And I am proud that we’ve shown throughout our history that when allies call, Britain answers.

    Nowhere has this been clearer than Ukraine.

    Ukrainians did not ask for this war.

    Putin invaded their country. 

    I saw the consequences of his imperialism first hand when I visited Kyiv this summer.

    The bombed-out shopping centres.

    The make-do shelters in underground carparks.

    Children’s toys lying in the rubble of the homes that Putin destroyed. 

    Ukraine’s frontline is the frontline for freedom and democracy everywhere.

    So, when a Ukrainian trade unionist leaves their workplace, puts on a uniform and goes to defend their family from invasion, I know whose side the Labour movement should be on.

    Theirs.

    When a Ukrainian nurse treats casualties under drone attack, I know whose side we should be on.

    Hers.

    When Ukrainian children spend their nights in underground shelters because Russian missiles are overhead, I know where our solidarity belongs.

    With them.

    So, to President Zelenskyy and our friends in Ukraine:

    Yesterday, today, tomorrow, we are with you for as long as it takes.

    Slava Ukraini.

    Closer to home, those who serve in our armed forces do so knowing they may be asked to pay the ultimate price for our collective freedom.

    I’m proud of the work John Healey started for our people: the biggest pay rise in years, investment in housing for our families, and action to support our veterans. 

    For many of those men and women, their service requires them to work in the shadows, so that the rest of us can go about our lives in safety and with confidence.

    Whether in our intelligence services or our special forces, they serve quietly, neither seeking nor receiving the public recognition their courage, professionalism and quiet dedication deserve.

    Secrecy does not negate the need for scrutiny.

    And our special forces don’t ask for special treatment. 

    They themselves set the highest standards for those who wear the uniform. 

    All they ask in return is that the historic misconduct of a few is not used to smear the heroism and integrity of the many.

    Because they will always have our back.

    And as Defence Secretary I will always have theirs.

    We are living in a new age of insecurity. 

    It is not yet clear whether freedom or tyranny will define the 21st century.

    War has returned to Europe. 

    Old alliances are being tested.

    Warfare is as tough, as bloody, and as deadly as it has ever been.

    But it is also being transformed by drones, by data, and by digital networks, in a way which would have been unrecognisable even when the war in Ukraine began.

    The conclusion is simple.

    We need to step up.

    We need to spend more.

    And friends, we are.

    With the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

    And a cast iron guarantee to honour the promise we made to our NATO allies, to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence by 2035.

    And we are well on our way with our investment plan.

    We are putting half a billion pounds into our UK Commando Force, giving them the latest drone technology as they help defend NATO’s High North.

    Over a billion pounds will help upgrade our British-made Typhoons.

    We will invest over 8 billion pounds to build a sixth-generation fighter jet, along with partners around the world, to ensure we can dominate the skies in decades to come.

    At sea, 1.3 billion pounds will give our Royal Navy new autonomous ships and underwater vessels to hunt threats, protect our waters and keep our enemies at a distance.

    And we are renewing another great Labour achievement, the protection provided every day by our nuclear deterrent. 

    I know that more spending on defence comes with choices and trade-offs. 

    But our critics on the right need to understand that you don’t make your country stronger by making our people poorer.

    And I also have to say directly to some of our critics on the left:

    You are not defending our public services by attacking investment in our national defences. 

    As a Labour Defence Secretary called Mr Healey once said:

    “Once we cut defence expenditure to the extent where our security is imperilled, we have no houses, we have no hospitals, we have no schools. We have a heap of cinders.”

    Denis Healey was right in 1969, and another Mr Healey called John was right to demand more when he was Defence Secretary just this year.

    In this Labour Chancellor we have a champion for defence.

    He knows it is not ‘either/or’ when it comes to public services and national security. 

    They depend upon one another.

    But with more money, comes greater responsibility.

    Every pound the Ministry of Defence spends must be spent well.

    And so today I make a promise:

    The Ministry of Defence I lead will be at the heart of our Prime Minister’s mission to reindustrialise Britain.

    Giving our young people skills, just like we’ve given Jack, to earn a good wage, in a good job, in their part of the country.

    Because there is neither an economic nor a moral justification for Britain’s defence sector hiring thousands of workers from abroad, when we have one million young people out of work here at home.

    But solving that problem needs more than words. 

    It demands bold action.

    And that is why today, the Chancellor and I are taking one of the biggest defence procurement decisions in a generation.

    The contract to build the docks for our nuclear subs.

    Our ultimate deterrent.

    Six billion pounds worth of work.

    Today, we commit to that contract staying in thiscountry.

    Supporting thousands of British jobs, for years to come.

    That is what growth in every post code means in practice.

    Backing Britain by buying British. 

    Nowhere is the Prime Minister’s appeal for problem solving, rather than point scoring, more relevant than on defence and national security.

    The Labour Party has a proud record of standing with our political opponents in the national interest.

    Clem Attlee did with Winston Churchill when he joined the Wartime Coalition.

    Michael Foot supported Margaret Thatcher when Argentina invaded the Falklands.

    And Keir Starmer supported Boris Johnson’s leadership on Ukraine. 

    But I am afraid we haven’t seen that responsible leadership from the current Leader of the Opposition.

    Nor have we seen her party taking any responsibility for the consequences of their failure to fund defence.

    The smallest army since the Napoleonic Wars.

    Every single recruitment target missed.

    Morale down 20%.

    Almost every equipment programme over-budget, behind schedule – often both.

    Our Armed Forces, in the words of their own Defence Secretary: “hollowed-out and under-funded”.

    So if Kemi Badenoch wants to go toe to toe with Labour on defence, we will wipe the floor with the Tories’ so comprehensively they will see their abysmal record reflected back at them.

    In the face of aggression from Russia and terrorism from those who hate our freedom, unity is strength.

    Let our allies and our adversaries hear this loud and clear: regardless of which party is leading in the polls or in parliament, our nation stands united.

    United behind our armed forces.

    United with Ukraine.

    United with NATO against Russian aggression.

    When it comes to keeping our country safe, we are far more united, and have far more in common, than the things that divide us.

    So let’s build that kind of politics. Problem solving not point scoring. 

    At no point in my lifetime has the threat of war loomed as large as it does today.


    Our adversaries are more dangerous, across more domains, and they are on our doorstep.

    To prevent the worst, we must prepare for it. We must meet this moment with action and with strength.


    John Healey and Dan Jarvis put in the hard yards to get the right plans and the right funding in place.

    Defence spending, up.

    Morale, up.

    New kit and equipment in the hands of our armed forces. 

    Lots done, but a lot more still to do.

    Because defending our country means more than strengthening our armed forces. It means strengthening the country they defend.

    Our enemies feed on division and fear. 

    Our leader, our Prime Minister, Andy Burnham is giving us hope again.

    Together, with this Labour Prime Minister and this Labour Government, we will build a country ready to fight and a Britain worth fighting for. 

    Thank you. 

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 29 September 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 29 September 1926

    29 SEPTEMBER 1926

    The House of Commons decided to continue the emergency regulations in operation.

    Further discussion of the mining situation took place in the Commons.

    The return-to-work movement among the miners has been considerably accelerated. The first break-away in Lancashire took place, as the result of a ballot at Atherton. The increase of men at work all over the country was over 10,000. The Executive of the Miners’ Federation asked the General Council of the Trade Union Congress to recommend a levy for the miners and an embargo on coal.

    A statement on the position of affairs in China, with special reference to the satisfaction demanded by Britain for recent occurrences on the Yangtse, the strength of British forces in the Far East, the removal of the Canton boycott, and the security of British interests, was made in the Commons by the Prime Minister.

    When fire broke out in an oil works and gas shade factory in Manchester, women employees were trapped in the building. Thrilling rescues were effected, but one woman was so severely burned that she died. Several other girls were injured.

    Viscount Cecil, in an interview at Geneva, said that while the League was the greatest international instrument for pacification, it should not be made the tool of cranks and lunatics. The Assembly had been most successful in great achievements besides the admission of Germany.

    The French Press comment upon M. Poincaré’s speech on the Franco-German relations is favourable. One paper declares that his remarks will bring back thoughts from airy generalities to cold hard facts.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 September 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 28 September 1926

    28 SEPTEMBER 1926

    The coal dispute was discussed in the House of Commons, the principal speakers on the Government side being the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    At question time in the House of Commons the President of the Board of Trade stated strong representations had been made to Spain regarding her action in increasing her Customs duties in contradiction of the spirit of the treaty reached with Britain.

    In the House of Lords yesterday, the Lord Chancellor (Viscount Cave) said the latest proposal of the Miners’ Federation was impossible of acceptance, because it was founded on a seven hours day. He believed the end of the strike was in sight. What was called an “organised retreat” had begun. The motion continuing the Emergency Regulations was passed.

    The miners’ leaders were engaged in a series of consultations to determine the policy and course of action to be taken. It was hoped that the debate in Parliament would produce some plan for ending the deadlock short of complete surrender.

    To endeavour to speed up the work of its technical sub-committees, the League of Nations Preparatory Disarmament Commission directed these sub-committees to avoid political complications when studying the question from the naval, military, or aerial standpoints. A United States delegate urged that the problem should be tackled in a practical way without waiting for details of abstract principles.

    M. Poincaré, addressing the Council-General of the Meuse, said France had never denied her liabilities to her foreign creditors, and was resolved to meet her debts loyally and in the full measure of her power, and within the limit of the possibilities of transfer.

  • NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 September 1926

    NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 27 September 1926

    27 SEPTEMBER 1926

    Towards the end of the final meeting of the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva, news was received that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies had approved of the return of Argentina to the league. During the meeting Viscount Cecil referred to the difference between British and French mentalities as one of the difficulties of the work of the League.

    No developments in the coal deadlock took place during the week-end. A national delegate conference of the Miners’ Federation has been summoned to meet on Wednesday, and the Miners’ Executive hope to meet the General Council of the Trade Union Congress to-morrow.

    Mr A. J. Cook, the miners’ secretary, speaking at Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, said they had reached the limit of their concessions. He would rather that every pit should shut down than that men should be driven back under conditions of longer hours and lower wages. At a previous meeting, near Radstock, in Somerset, Mr Cook said, “We have got to compromise now.”

    Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., addressing a meeting of railway workers at Manchester, pleaded for goodwill and co-operation in the railway service. He advocated the principle that in demanding the best from the other side they must be prepared to give the best in return.

    Mr Frank Hodges, secretary to the International Miners’ Federation, has carried his controversy with Mr A. J. Cook a stage further. In a statement Mr Hodges asks the miners to exercise their inviolable right to a ballot vote, and to declare to the world that they are not mere pawns in the game.

  • NEWS STORY : UK Reaffirms Planned Ban on Goods From Illegal Israeli Settlements at UN

    NEWS STORY : UK Reaffirms Planned Ban on Goods From Illegal Israeli Settlements at UN

    STORY

    The UK has told the United Nations Security Council that it intends to legislate to prohibit imports from illegal Israeli settlements and introduce sanctions against people and organisations which finance, support or facilitate settlement activity. Ambassador Kate Foster, the UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, said that the measures were being developed with international partners to protect the viability of a two state solution.

    Foster criticised the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and called for the proposed E1 development not to proceed, arguing that it would separate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. She also called on the Israeli Government to prevent settler violence and ensure that those responsible were held accountable. The UK urged Israel to release clearance revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, provide sustainable banking arrangements and ease restrictions affecting movement, trade and employment.

    Turning to Gaza, Foster said that the UK remained committed to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20 Point Peace Plan. She called for Hamas to surrender its weapons, dismantle its infrastructure and relinquish control of Gaza. The UK has pledged $117 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance during 2026, while calling on Israel to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid, end the killing in Gaza and withdraw.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution – UK statement at the UN Security Council

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution – UK statement at the UN Security Council

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 September 2026.

    Statement by Ambassador Kate Foster, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the West Bank.

    Throughout High-Level Week, we heard a clear and repeated commitment to achieving a two-state solution.

    It remains the only credible path forwards to a better future for Israelis and Palestinians, founded on lasting peace and security for both.

    Yet the two-state solution is at risk of being destroyed by the facts on the ground.

    Mr President, my Prime Minister has been clear: the 7th October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel was monstrous, and he has condemned Hamas’ actions in the strongest terms.

    The United Kingdom continues to stand with Israel in the face of ongoing threats, including from Iran.

    But my Prime Minister has also been clear that this does not justify the Government of Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza.

    In the West Bank, Israel continues to expand settlements at pace, in violation of international law, and contrary to Resolution 2334.

    We are approaching a point of no return with the E1 settlement project.

    We welcome the reports that the deadline for bids may be delayed. 

    But a temporary delay is not enough. 

    It would sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank and endanger the viability of a two-state solution.

    This project must not go ahead.

    Alongside the rapid expansion of settlements, we have also seen an alarming increase in settler violence.

    The Government of Israel must prevent violence in all of its forms and ensure proper accountability for perpetrators. 

    Pardons and decisions not to bring charges against Israeli soldiers who have committed violent crimes sends the opposite message. 

    The United Kingdom is acting with international partners to protect the two-state solution.  

    Together with partners, we have announced our intention to legislate to ban the import of goods from illegal settlements, and bring in sanctions against those who finance, support, and facilitate illegal settlements.

    We have been clear that we view the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land as unlawful.

    We continue to support the Palestinian Authority’s reform agenda and welcome its commitments to hold elections.

    Credible, transparent, and reformed public institutions remain essential to a future Palestinian state.

    We welcome the recent extension by Israel of correspondent banking relationships. 

    But we need urgent action to reverse policies which are crippling the West Bank economy. 

    Further measures must include:

    The release of clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority;

    Ensuring sustainable and predictable banking arrangements;

    Easing movement and access restrictions, facilitating trade, and improving access to employment and economic opportunities.

    Turning to Gaza, the United Kingdom remains fully committed to implementation of Resolution 2803 and the 20-Point Peace Plan.

    Hamas must decommission its weapons, dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and completely relinquish its control of Gaza.

    The United Kingdom has pledged $117 million in humanitarian and early recovery assistance this year. 

    But aid cannot save lives if it cannot reach people. 

    With another winter approaching, urgent action is needed.

    Last week, my Foreign Secretary, alongside Jordan and Qatar, brought partners together behind a Call to Action on humanitarian access and healthcare in Gaza.

    The focus must now be on turning that shared commitment into tangible improvements for people on the ground.

    Israel must lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid, stop the killing in Gaza, and withdraw.

    Mr President, we are at a critical juncture. 

    The peoples of Israel and Palestine deserve a better future.

    This Council must do all we can to protect the two-state solution, bolster stability in the West Bank, and bring the suffering in Gaza to an end.

  • NEWS STORY : Government Announces Measures to Strengthen Homelessness Prevention and Protect Social Housing

    NEWS STORY : Government Announces Measures to Strengthen Homelessness Prevention and Protect Social Housing

    STORY

    The Government has confirmed that it will introduce amendments to the Social Housing Bill intended to improve access to housing for homeless households. Councils would receive new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between councils and housing associations and reducing reliance on temporary accommodation.

    The Bill will also require private social housing providers to notify councils and other potential purchasers before selling homes outside the social housing sector. The Government intends to extend the notification period to eight weeks, giving councils and housing providers more time to consider purchasing the properties and retaining them for social housing.

    A new Duty to Collaborate would require public services to work more closely together to identify people at risk of becoming homeless and consider what action they can take within their existing responsibilities. The Government said that the measures would support local authorities facing homelessness pressures and complement the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which is intended to increase the supply of social and affordable housing over ten years.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Social Housing Bill to strengthen homelessness prevention and protect social housing stock [September 2026]

    PRESS RELEASE : Social Housing Bill to strengthen homelessness prevention and protect social housing stock [September 2026]

    The press release issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 28 September 2026.

    New amendments to the Social Housing Bill will deliver stronger protections for homeless households.

    The government has today (Monday 28 September) confirmed it will bring forward amendments to the Social Housing Bill. Additional measures will help retain more social homes, strengthen homelessness prevention and ensure social housing is allocated to those who need it most.  

    Through the Social Housing Bill, councils will be given new powers to refer homeless households to private registered providers of social housing, strengthening collaboration between housing associations and councils, helping to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and improve access to housing for those in greatest need.  

    The Bill will also introduce a new disposals notification requirement, which will give councils and other social housing providers better opportunity to purchase social homes before they are sold outside the sector – which will help to retain our much-needed housing stock. The government intends to extend the notification period to eight weeks.  

    A new Duty to Collaborate will require public services to work more closely together to identify people at risk of homelessness and consider what action they can take within their existing responsibilities to help prevent homelessness.  

    The measures are intended to support councils in addressing homelessness pressures, strengthen partnership working across the housing sector and help maintain the long-term supply of social housing.  

    The government previously committed £39 billion over ten years through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to support the delivery of new social and affordable housing. Councils and housing associations will continue to play a key role in increasing housing supply and providing homes for local communities.