Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called a cabinet meeting before he takes to the stage in front of a packed hall in Liverpool for his first Labour Conference speech as Labour leader. The cabinet will meet shortly before 2pm, according to The Telegraph.
Business Secretary Jonathon Reynolds told an event at the Labour conference this morning: "We have to have a little quick cabinet meeting before the Prime Minister's speech." The cabinet usually meets at 9.30am in Downing Street on a Tuesday.
Pledges and announcements
Mr Burnham will pledge to tackle the issues politicians "usually avoid" in his first leader's speech at the Labour Party conference amid mounting speculation the pensions triple lock could be reformed to fund social care.
Mr Burnham will tell party members that "hope comes from honesty" and he will also announce a new publicly-owned "Great British Grid" in a bid to bring UK energy costs down in line with European nations within a decade.
The Prime Minister will say: "We can't carry on as we are. Politics-as-usual has taken Britain backwards. More of the same isn't good enough and isn't going to get us where we need to be."
Pensions triple lock speculation
Ministers have refused to confirm Labour's commitment to the triple lock, which guarantees that pensions will rise in line with inflation, 2.5% or average earnings, whichever is the largest increase.
This has fuelled speculation that a change in the way pensions are increased to a less generous system could be used to partly fund the cost of free social care for adults in England.
Burnham's social media message
On X, Mr Burnham posted this morning: "We can't carry on as we are. Politics as usual has taken Britain backwards, and more of the same won't get us where we need to be."
"Today, I'll set out a different path for our country. That means having an honest conversation about the things we've ignored for too long, from fixing social care and tackling youth unemployment to giving people more control over energy, water and housing. Hope comes from honesty."
"It comes from saying the things politicians usually avoid, being straight about the challenges we face, and having the courage to fix them. That's exactly what I will do."
Housing plans announced
Ahead of the Prime Minister's speech, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has spoken to the hall and set out new housing plans. She said: "I am taking every action to empower people in their own homes."
Ms Rayner added: "I have a bit of unfinished business, confronting the scandal faced by millions of leaseholders who have found their dream of homeownership turn into a nightmare."
"While the Tories sat back and refused to tackle this problem, this Labour Government has shown whose side it is on. We are ending the injustice of 'fleecehold'."
