Sir Keir Starmer has said he would not offer “easy answers” or “false hope” but promised a Britain “built to last” in his first speech to the Labour Party conference as prime minister.
He said Labour would deliver the “national renewal” the country wanted but warned it would involve some “trade-offs”, such as new prisons and electricity pylons near homes.
He also acknowledged concerns about cuts to winter fuel payments but said “stabilising our economy is the first step of this long-term plan”.
The 54 minute speech also included a promise of homes for all military veterans who need them and to introduce a Hillsborough Law imposing a duty of candour on local authorities and civil servants.
Sir Keir also addressed the summer riots triggered by the Southport knife attack.
He denounced the riots as “violent thuggery” and said people who were concerned about immigration should not be confused with those who “smashed up businesses” and “attempted to burn refugees”.
He said the government wanted to reduce “both net migration and our economic dependency upon it” but added: “The debate is not about the worth of migrants – that is toxic and we must move beyond it.”
During a section on the Middle East, Sir Keir mis-spoke when instead of calling for a release of hostages, he called for a release of sausages.
He also said there should be de-escalation between Lebanon and Israel, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution.
A pro-Palestine heckler briefly interrupted the speech. In response, Sir Keir said: “This guy’s obviously got a pass to the 2019 conference” a reference to the last time Jeremy Corbyn was leader.
“While he’s been protesting, we’ve been changing the party,” Sir Keir added.
He did not address criticisms he has faced in recent weeks about donations and tensions within his government.
He said there was a “difficult road ahead” but a “light at the end of the tunnel” and that the country would get there “much more quickly” if the government took “tough decisions now”.
“If you bury your head because things are difficult, your country goes backwards.”
“So if we want justice to be served some communities must live close to new prisons.
“If we want to maintain support for the welfare state, then we will legislate to stop benefit fraud.
“If we want cheaper electricity, we need new pylons overground otherwise the burden on taxpayers is too much.”
He said that criticism – including “the politics of noisy performance, the weak and cowardly fantasy of populism” – was “water off a duck’s back” to him.
He sought to make a virtue of his lack of showmanship, saying the country needed “stability, moderation and common sense”.
Sir Keir confirmed that the headquarters of GB Energy would be in Aberdeen.
