London Playbook PM: Starmer’s speech is all vibes

Good afternoon. This is Andrew McDonald from Liverpool.
— Keir Starmer just addressed the Labour faithful in Liverpool. 
— Predictably, there was only a smattering of policy in it
— His speech was also disrupted, predictably
— SCOOP: Donald Trump hit back at Angela Eagle
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STAND BY ME: Keir Starmer promised that better days are ahead and tried to convince us to keep the faith with his new government — as he addressed the Labour faithful in Liverpool this afternoon with a speech full of Starmerisms but predictably less full of policy. Playbook PM was in the room.
A new hope: Hacks and activists waiting for Starmer in the main hall were entertained by a “Star Wars”-style (hard lines, “Star Wars” super-fan Rishi Sunak ) ticking scroller of every constituency Labour won in July, followed by tunes from Confidence Man … Taylor Swift … and lots more upbeat modern pop. And then Starmer appeared after a brief intro and video. 
Starmer prepped for the big moment by … having dinner last night with retired footballer Jamie Carragher, Playbook PM hears. This morning he did the rounds in the Pullman at breakfast, chatting to pals including his biographer Tom Baldwin and New Labour comeback kid Douglas Alexander.
Stick Keir with me: Much like Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday, Starmer tried to strike a more optimistic tone — amid acknowledgements throughout the party that there’s been a little too much gloom from the fledgling Labour government so far. But he took a while to get to the more optimistic stuff.
First up: Starmer told the faithful to “take pride” in its victory, before aiming lengthy broadsides at what he called “the weak and cowardly fantasy of populism” … and the Tories, obvs. It was all very Starmer. 
The crowd then got well into it … when Starmer, in his most passionate moment, said he would “never let a minority of violent, racist thugs terrorize our communities,” in reference to this summer’s riots. This earned him the first of 10 standing ovations.
Reassurance time: Acknowledging the less than positive vibes around the conference, Starmer said he wanted to reassure those who are “nervous” about the “difficult road ahead.” Directly addressing the cuts to the winter fuel allowance, the PM said he got the concern. “If this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already. But the risk of showing to the world, as the Tories did, that this country does not fund its policies properly is a risk we can never take again.”
Problem is: Starmer’s challenge to keep the public onside was hammered home right as he got up to speak — the very moment polling firm Savanta hit send on this word cloud showing how 2,000 people described the PM in one word. “Liar” … “useless” … “idiot” … “boring” … “untrustworthy” … and “weak” were all prominent — as were “strong” and “good,” to be fair.
After the attempted reassurance: Starmer started to make a few implicit political arguments. Aping Vote Leave language, Starmer said his Labour government wants to “take back control” of migration. Bits of the Labour left have already been kicking off at Home Secretary Yvette Cooper making similar arguments this morning. As the Times’ Steve Swinford points out here, Starmer also used the speech to cover similar ground to Reeves on the need for trade offs — and the pain expected to come in next month’s budget. 
There was some policy: Starmer promised a Hillsborough law to force public bodies to cooperate with investigations into major disasters, to be introduced before the next anniversary of the stadium tragedy … finally confirmed that GB Energy would be located in Aberdeen … and announced plans to remove the bureaucracy of proving a local link when veterans, care leavers and domestic abuse victims apply for social housing. 
But otherwise: It was all vibes, as the kids say. Asked by hacks after the speech if Starmer’s speech was policy light, Starmer’s spokesperson said they “don’t accept that,” reeling off Starmer’s language on immigration and the policies above.
Predictably: The speech was disrupted. A protester stood up 50 minutes into Starmer’s 54 minute speech to shout about Gaza. “That guy has obviously got a pass from the 2019 Labour conference,” came back the quick-as-a-flash Starmer wisecrack — obviously pre-prepared for the inevitability of a protester managing to get their way in again. 
Starmer then finished up … with a promise that “Britain belongs to you,” a callback to the party’s *checks notes* 1959 manifesto apparently. After a brief hug and pose with wife Victoria — No. 10 wasn’t saying who paid for their clothes — Starmer made a swift exit, wandering off without the usual glad-handing with members of the Cabinet and gormless waving. 
And now: Starmer’s number two Angela Rayner has a broadcast round with regional BBC stations to hammer home Starmer’s key messages. The times are at the bottom of this email. Starmer, for his part, jets off to New York for the U.N. General Assembly tonight after a round of broadcast interviews which air tomorrow. 
Some snap verdicts: Guardian live blogger in chief Andrew Sparrow called the speech a “disappointment” that came across as a flop for the sleepy first 30 minutes … the New Statesman’s Rachel Cunliffe reckoned Starmer managed to get across the cautious hope vibe … The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman was a fan … and the Evening Standard’s Jack Kessler was not. 
And will this be the bit everyone remembers? Starmer misspoke and called for the return of Israeli “sausages” held by Hamas, during a brief section on foreign policy. It’s going viral, obvs.
LIGHTNING QUICK SPEECHES RUN-THROUGH: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper set out plans for safer streets and less knife crime and accused those making claims of two-tier policing of undermining the rule of law … following an intro from Olympic gold medalist Imogen Grant, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy focused on opening up the arts … and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the creation of a new “Women’s Justice Board” aimed at reducing the number of women going to prison.
More from Nandy: The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar has a sit down with Nandy here, where the culture secretary accused the former government of a “violent indifference” to the arts.
EAGLE BLOW LANDED: Donald Trump’s response to Angela Eagle accusing him of emboldening U.K. racists via his immigration rhetoric was classic of its kind: dismissive — but hella, hella bitter. “Nobody knows who this random person is or cares what comes out of her mouth,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told my POLITICO colleague Emilio Casalicchio, in response to the attack from Eagle during conference. “Who is she and what does she do?”
Also weighing in: Trump pal Nigel Farage had some choice words for the illegal immigration minister as well. “Angela Eagle and the Labour Party are so scared of this subject that all they can do is throw abuse at anyone who is concerned at the unwanted changes to our country,” he told Emilio. 
Charm offensive … vs just offensive: All this should help Keir Starmer ingratiate himself with Camp Trump so the two sides can play happy families if the Republican wins the U.S. election in November. Not. Here’s Emilio’s full story.
POLLING PROBLEMS: Three quarters of voters said it’s unacceptable for the PM to accept gifts from businesses or organizations, according to new Ipsos polling … and YouGov polling found just under a quarter expected Labour to do well and had been disappointed. Analysis of the reasons behind the lack of faith showed cuts to winter fuel payments were the main cause of resentment.
MORE PROTEST ACTION: A group of pro-Palestine protesters was arrested just outside the secure zone, after spraying “genocide” on the conference entrance. Video from the House magazine’s Sophie Church here.
STILL TO COME ON THE FRINGES: Chancellor Rachel Reeves pops up at an IPPR panel on securonomics (invite-only, 5.15 p.m. Arena Room 9, ACC) … Darren Jones in conversation with Labour Together, followed by drinks with Reeves (5.30 p.m. Arena Room 2, ACC) … The Holocaust Educational Trust hosts an in conversation with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich (5.30 p.m. Albert 4, Hilton Hotel) … The Tony Blair Institute hosts in conversation with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science Secretary Peter Kyle on tech delivering the five missions (6 p.m. Auditorium 1B, ACC) …
And breathe: Nandy talks 5G and SMEs (6.45 p.m. Hall 2D, ACC) … whipless MPs Zarah Sultana, Richard Burgon, John McDonnell and Labour MP Nadia Whittome hold a socialist rally (7 p.m. Meeting Room 11A, ACC) … Yvette Cooper, Phillipson and Jess Phillips attend a rally against violence towards women and girls (7.30 p.m. Meeting Room 4A, ACC) … Labour First host a rally with Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, Home Offie Minister Angela Eagle, Employment Minister Alison McGovern and AI Minister Feryal Clark (7 p.m. Hilton Hotel) … Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar in conversation with the Scottish Fabian Society (7.45 p.m. Maritime Museum).
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COBRA, ASSEMBLE: Defense Secretary John Healey left conference early to chair an emergency COBRA meeting on the crisis in the Middle East and ongoing tension between Lebanon and Israel, Sky’s Tamara Cohen reports.
On the ground: At least six people were killed and 15 injured after a “targeted” airstrike by Israel in Beirut, with Reuters reporting Ibrahim Qubaisi, the head of Hezbollah’s rocket unit, as among those killed. More than 550 people, including 50 children, have been killed overall in Lebanon since Monday by Israeli strikes, as thousands continue to flee southern Lebanon.
From Israel: Government spokesperson David Mencer accused Hezbollah of committing a “double war crime” by hiding weaponry in civilian areas and carrying out attacks directed at Israelis, forcing many to leave their homes to escape rocket fire. Sky has a live blog.
View from the White House:  Joe Biden said a “full scale war is not in anyone’s interest” as he gave his last address to the UNGA in New York as U.S. president, calling for a diplomatic solution as the “only path to lasting security” for residents of both countries.
Still to come: Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks at UNGA in New York at 8 p.m. U.K. time, with a speech focused on Ukraine.
PLEADING THEIR CASE: Barristers are demanding a 15 per cent pay rise — and a new independent pay review body — from the government, the Telegraph’s Charles Hymas reports. The briefs held a load of strikes during the last Tory government, which didn’t help with the whole court backlog thing.
PERMISSION DENIED: Planning permission approvals reached a record low in the final months of the last government, a BBC Verify investigation found.
NEW GIG: Hexham MP Joe Morris has been appointed as a PPS to House of Lords Leader Angela Smith, Playbook PM hears — meaning he’ll be the Lords’ leadership’s eyes and ears in the Commons.
IN NEW YORK: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for Kyiv to be allowed to fire western missiles into Russia, telling ABC News: “We will lose thousands of schools and tens of thousands of lives” if that doesn’t happen. He is due to meet outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden this week —  my colleague Ketrin Jochecová has more. 
IN CHINA: The central bank unveiled its largest stimulus since the Covid-19 pandemic by cutting interest rates, in an attempt to restore confidence in the world’s second largest economy after it suffered from widespread deflation. Beijing is on course to miss its growth target of 5 percent this year — Reuters has more details.
IN SWEDEN: Prosecutors accused Iran’s intelligence service of hacking an SMS operator last year to send 15,000 messages “calling for revenge” on protestors who burned copies of the Qur’an, with the aim to “create division in Swedish society.” The Guardian has a writeup.
LEADING THE NEWS BULLETINS: Channel 5 News (5 p.m.) and BBC News at Six lead on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s speech to Labour conference … as does Channel 4 News (7 p.m.) which has an interview with Science Secretary Peter Kyle.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner BBC local radio broadcast round: Humberside (5 p.m.) … Berkshire (5.08 p.m.) … Essex (5.15 p.m.) … Cornwall (5.22 p.m.) … Lancashire (5.30 p.m.) … Hereford and Worcester (5.38 p.m.) … Wiltshire (5.45 p.m.) … Solent (5.52 p.m.).
Tom Swarbrick at Drive (LBC, until 6 p.m.): Labour peer John Hutton (5.05 p.m.) … National Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Chair Donna Jones (5.35 p.m.).
Drive with John Pienaar (Times Radio, until 7 p.m.): Peter Kyle … Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn … Energy Secretary Ed Miliband … Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy … Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds … Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden … Labour MP and West of England Mayor Dan Norris … Labour MPs Paul Waugh and Rachael Maskell … Unite the Union General Secretary Sharon Graham.
BBC PM (Radio 4, 5 p.m.): Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
News Hour (Sky News, 5 p.m.): Wes Streeting (5.10 p.m.) … UNICEF Deputy Representative for Lebanon Ettie Higgins (5.30 p.m.).
Sky News Daily (Podcast, drops at 5 p.m.): Home Secretary Yvette Cooper … Jonathan Reynolds … Pat McFadden … Hilary Benn … Transport Secretary Louise Haigh.
Tonight With Andrew Marr (LBC, 6 p.m.): Angela Rayner (6 p.m.) … FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack (6.15 p.m.) … Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar (6.30 p.m) … Keir Starmer’s biographer Tom Baldwin and Labour MP Kim Johnson (both 6.45 p.m.).
The Political Fourcast (Podcast, drops at 6 p.m.): Lords Leader Angela Smith … RCN General Secretary Nicola Ranger.
Iain Dale (LBC, 7 p.m.): Education Minister Jacqui Smith (7.35 p.m.).
Farage (GB News, 7 p.m.): Former Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.
Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge (Sky News, 7 p.m.): Wes Streeting … Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika … Labour donor Dale Vince.
Cross Question with Iain Dale (LBC, 8 p.m.): Culture Minister Chris Bryant … Labour MP Calvin Bailey … UCU General Secretary Jo Grady.
Jacob Rees-Mogg’s State of the Nation (GB News, 8 p.m.): Former Tory MP Richard Drax … former Labour adviser Matthew Laza.
Patrick Christys Tonight (GB News, 9 p.m.): Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe.
Newsnight (BBC 2, 10.30 p.m.): Environment Secretary Steve Reed … Labour MP Barry Gardiner … Ayesha Hazarika.
TWEETING TOMORROW’S PAPERS TONIGHT: George Mann.
REVIEWING THE PAPERS TONIGHT: Times Radio (10.30 p.m.): Matthew Laza and journalist Robin Brant.
PICK OF THE DRINKS: Northern Irish Chamber of Commerce reception with a speech from NI Secretary Hilary Benn … LBC (7.30 p.m.) … U.K. Music and TikTok, special appearance from Will Young (7 p.m.) … Lisa Nandy and Anas Sarwar both have DJ sets at the Labour Students Disco (7 p.m.) … Total Politics (9.15 p.m.) … Labour Friends of Israel (9.30 p.m.) … and the Mirror Party to close the night (10 p.m.). Warning: invites generally required.
LABOUR CONFERENCE: Wraps with speeches from Wes Streeting and Liz Kendall.
UNGA: Continues in New York.
BOOK: Former 1922 Committee Chair Graham Brady’s book launch. 
ON THIS DAY IN POLITICS: David Mellor resigned as heritage minister on this day in 1992, amid a barrage of stories about his affair with actress Antonia de Sancha.
MEA CULPA: The spotted list for FGS Global in this morning’s Playbook should have been attributed to Global Counsel. Playbook clearly attended way too many parties last night.
WRITING PLAYBOOK TOMORROW MORNING: Sam Blewett.
THANKS TO: My editor Rosa Prince, reporter Noah Keate and the POLITICO production team for making it look nice.
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