Growth as the antidote to division
Keir Starmer is using his Labour conference address to argue that sustained economic growth can be the antidote to the disorder sown by populist right forces. He emphasizes that growth should lift living standards for people across all regions, not just a select few, and that the way wealth is created — and who benefits from it — will determine whether Britain grows closer together or tears itself apart. The core message is that a thriving economy can bring everyday security, more spending power, and a sense of shared purpose that counteracts division.
A message to Labour and the nation
Speaking in Liverpool, Starmer seeks to reassert his authority over a restive party while signaling that his approach can meet the moment without abandoning fiscal discipline. The calendar has not been kind: Ipsos polling released ahead of the conference showed him at a historic low in popularity for a serving prime minister, underscoring the challenge of unifying the party and reconnecting with voters.
Economic strategy under scrutiny
The prime minister frames growth as a national project that goes beyond the top line. He argues that an economy that grows from the grassroots — driven by rising wages, secure jobs, and opportunities across every region — strengthens the social fabric as well as the public purse. Yet the path is constrained by a tight fiscal backdrop and difficult choices ahead on tax and spending, with the reality that future productivity and growth estimates will shape the budget landscape.
The fiscal backdrop and policy pressures
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned of further tests in the months ahead as the Office for Budget Responsibility’s projections feed into next month’s budget. With productivity growth likely to be revised lower, the government could face the possibility of up to 30 billion pounds in tax rises or spending reductions if policy planners must recalibrate to new forecasts. Reeves has signaled that some reforms, including gambling taxation, could be pursued to shore up public finances while protecting the broader growth agenda.
Inside Labour: the debate over fiscal rules
Labour figures, including Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, reflect a party wrestling with how far to push borrowing and investment. Jones has suggested that fiscal rules could allow prudent flexibility, while Burnham argues for strong but sensible rules that enable productive investments with clear returns. The exchanges underscore a party trying to balance ambitious growth plans with responsible stewardship of the public finances.
Decency versus division: a defining choice
Starmer is expected to cast the years ahead as a fork in the road between renewal and decline, decency and division. He will invoke Britain’s postwar history to remind supporters that, when faced with difficult decisions, the country has pulled together to rebuild and reform. The overarching aim is clear: a path of renewal that distributes the gains from growth more evenly and strengthens the social contract across communities.
Looking ahead
As the conference unfolds, Labour will need to translate a message of growth into a coherent plan that voters can feel in their pockets and their daily lives. Reeves’s warnings about headwinds and the need to balance ambition with prudence will push the party to articulate how growth will be inclusive, how living standards will rise, and how Britain can stand united in a volatile global environment.
