Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: Starmer on the hot seat ahead of Labour conference
Keir Starmer returns to a national audience on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, as Labour prepares for its annual conference in Liverpool. The interview slots a pivotal moment for the party, with leadership questions lingering in the backdrop as Starmer seeks to rally support and set out a clear path after a challenging year.
The programme promises a wide-ranging conversation, touching on leadership, party unity, and policy plans. Also on the show, the Conservatives’ shadow team member James Cleverly weighs in from a different angle, while a panel of Labour voices and political analysts dissect what the conference could reveal about the party’s trajectory.
Key topics at the conference: leadership, policy, and public support
Across the hour, viewers can expect questions that have dominated Westminster chatter—whether Starmer can steady public polling, how Labour plans to address cost-of-living pressures, and what reforms the party might pursue on taxation and public services. The programme also looks at whether any leadership questions, including talk around potential contenders, will surface during the conference in Liverpool.
Laura Kuenssberg’s interview comes as party figures gauge the mood ahead of the gathering, with commentators noting that the conference could be a turning point for how Labour presents its alternative to the current government’s record.
Underwriting the JLR loan: a £1.5bn plan to protect UK jobs
A major policy item looming over the conference is the government’s decision to underwrite a £1.5 billion loan to Jaguar Land Rover from a commercial bank. The aim is to shield the company’s supplier network after a cyber-attack forced production to pause for weeks. JLR supports roughly 150,000 jobs across the UK and relies on a network of around 700 suppliers. With production halted and orders not being placed this month, the government argues this backing protects livelihoods up and down the supply chain.
While the move is framed as safeguarding critical manufacturing jobs, critics will watch how the policy is pitched as a broader industrial strategy and how it aligns with Labour’s economic priorities.
Peace prospects in Gaza and foreign policy signals
In a Guardian interview conducted ahead of the conference, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper signalled that the international community is moving toward a peace deal to end the war in Gaza. She noted that leaders at the UN summit have “reached a moment where the world wants to end this war.”
The remarks come amid conflicting statements, including remarks from the US about the possibility of a deal. Cooper urged Israel to “urgently change course,” while stopping short of labeling Israel’s actions genocide, explaining the government’s position is bound by legal processes. The UN commission of inquiry has claimed genocide, a finding rejected by Israel’s foreign ministry. The session highlights how foreign policy issues could feature in Labour’s conference narrative as the party attempts to present a coherent stance on global crises.
Immigration policy: indefinite leave to remain reforms
In the run up to the conference, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signalled a desire to reform Indefinite Leave to Remain rules. Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, Mahmood described migration as a “good thing” for the UK, provided newcomers contribute to their communities. She indicated plans to connect long-term settlement to broader contributions beyond job status and tax payments—an attempt to shape a more integrated and contribution-based immigration framework.
Leadership chatter: Burnham, Cleverly, and the politics of the stage
The programme also navigates the ongoing leadership debate surrounding Andy Burnham. Starmer has repeatedly avoided commenting on Burnham’s personal ambitions, while Burnham himself has hinted at interest in the leadership but acknowledged that any run would require joining Parliament first. The political calculus is complicated by procedural hurdles, including the need for MP nominations and by-elections to enable a leadership bid. The discussion also touches on James Cleverly’s role, reflecting the cross-party dynamics at play as Labour charts its future strategy.
What to watch at the conference: momentum, message, and method
As Labour heads into its conference, the central question is whether Starmer can “pull this round,” as he suggested in recent interviews. With Reform UK critics pressing the government from outside Parliament, Labour aims to present a credible alternative capable of uniting a broad coalition of voters. Sunday’s edition, with Kuenssberg at the helm, offers a snapshot of the party’s mid-season test and the public’s appetite for leadership, policy clarity, and a hopeful path forward.
You can stream the show live at 09:00 BST on the programme’s page, and follow our live updates as the conference unfolds.
