Liverpool, September 2025. (Imogen Martin and Zak Ivany)
Just over a year ago, the Labour Party won a decisive victory in the 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative government and returning to power with a substantial majority. Over the past year, the Government has navigated a demanding first term, heading into conference following a stormy few weeks of headlines after the resignation of Angela Rayner, the Deputy PM and Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government, the impromptu cabinet reshuffle which followed, and speculation over a potential leadership challenge from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.
At this year’s conference, keynote speeches were notably focused on political positioning, rather than unveiling a raft of new policy details.
This approach reflects Labour’s current position as a party of government under pressure on multiple fronts. It also plays into the electoral calendar: with Senedd elections in Wales and local contests on the horizon next year, drawing clear dividing lines helps to consolidate Labour’s base and see off the challenge from Reform in particular.
The conference included keynote speeches from senior party figures. Our team followed the proceedings closely and has summarised the key speeches and announcements below:
The View from Wales – Welsh First Minister’s Speech – Eluned Morgan
Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales, used her conference speech to prepare her party for the upcoming Senedd election in May. She described the contest as a significant test for Welsh Labour, noting “growing challenges” from both Reform UK and Plaid Cymru. Throughout the address she underlined Welsh Labour’s long historical connection with Wales and presented the party as a champion of equality, security and community.
The First Minister outlined a series of achievements delivered under devolution, including free primary school meals, free prescriptions and bus passes for older people, a legal guarantee of the Real Living Wage for care workers, and legislation on social partnership and future generations.
Furthermore, Eluned Morgan announced that in the next Senedd term any business seeking Welsh Government funding would need to pay the Real Living Wage, end exploitative zero-hours contracts and allow trade union access. She also outlined plans to continue investment in transport infrastructure.
A central part of the speech was a call for greater control over Wales’s natural resources, particularly its wind and marine energy potential. Morgan argued that the Welsh Government should have the power to manage and benefit directly from offshore wind and tidal projects in Welsh waters. At present, rights to lease the seabed for such developments are held by the Crown Estate and administered from London. Devolving these powers, she said, would allow Wales to capture a larger share of the economic value created by the expansion of offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and other marine renewable opportunities. Although she did not announce new generation targets or specific projects, her emphasis on “our wind, our seas, our energy” signalled that securing these powers is a priority for the next term and a key part of Labour’s strategy for economic growth and energy transition.
Leader’s Speech – Keir Starmer (30 09)
Keir Starmer opened his speech by stating that he wanted to start a “decade of national renewal” but explained that the path would be “long” and “difficult” but said he will lead the country to become “fairer” and “newer.”
Taking a similar tone to most keynote speakers at the Conference, the Prime Minister warned about Reform UK claiming that Nigel Farage did not have anything “positive” to say about Britain’s future.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister also scrapped Labour’s goal for 50% of school leavers to attend university. He said instead that “two-thirds of our children should either go to university or take on a [gold standard] apprenticeship” and pledged to increase college standards, teaching quality and increase the number of apprenticeships available, including in clean power industries.
The View on Energy and Net Zero: Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – Ed Miliband (01 10)
Ed Miliband reasserted his commitment to net zero, and delivering a clear stance on the fight against climate change. He flagged his ending of the ban on onshore wind in England, his commitment to delivering solar energy to power 2million UK homes and bringing forward Great British Energy. New nuclear in Wales and seeing off the return of fracking as an ‘imported’ culture war from the United States, by Reform UK, were key notes in the conference’s closing speech by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Chancellor’s Speech – Rachel Reeves (29 09)
Opening her keynote speech, the Chancellor discussed the government’s plans to invest in long-term projects to support the economy. Rachel Reeves also announced that the Government would be introducing new legislation to “put our economic security first” and will focus on creating new British jobs.
The Chancellor forewarned that the UK will face potentially difficult economic choices in the upcoming budget on 26th November 2025. But one of the key headline points of Rachel Reeves’ conference announcements, centred around Labour’s new Young Employment Scheme. The Scheme will see paid work placements offered to every young person aged 18 to 21 who has been unemployed for 18 months.
Conclusions
Away from the main conference hall Thirty4/7’s Associate Director and Head of Strategic Projects, Zak Ivany took part in a number of fringe events. With both Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy and Bill Esterson, Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee speaking. This included about both the opportunities for new nuclear in Wales, and how energy policy can sit at the heart of supporting other government priority areas such as economic growth, the cost of living and health, as Labour seeks to move into its second, delivery phase of its tenure in government.
If overall the political mood music felt more understated, this could perhaps be chalked up to a somewhat difficult buildup for Labour and Keir Starmer in the weeks leading up to this year’s conference. But more likely it is reflective of the leadership’s desire, despite political challenges in what are still relatively early days for the new Government and this current parliament, to focus in on staying the course and the detailed and difficult work of delivery. For most the leader’s speech will have quietened all talk of a challenge to Keir Starmer. The next real challenge will be the local and Senedd elections next year, where large chunks of the electorate will have the chance to give their own verdict.
