Unite leader Sharon Graham accused the Labour government of leading the country towards “austerity mark 2”, calling for them to abandon the winter fuel payments cut and arguing that taxing wealth could avoid the need for austerity. Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar emphasized the importance of removing the two-child benefit cap to lift children out of poverty, echoing Labour’s commitment to fighting poverty.
In response, the Conservatives attacked Labour over donations, accusing Keir Starmer’s government of self-service rather than serving the country. Additionally, the decision to remove the winter fuel allowance for most pensioners was criticized as politically inept by the Fire Brigades Union.
On the international front, Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the need for allies to show support for Ukraine with “guts” and “nerve”. This was echoed by Ukraine’s ambassador, who highlighted the importance of modern weapons to defend against Russian aggression.
Labour’s Angela Rayner announced plans for further devolution in the north of England, focusing on metro mayors to give regions more control over local governance. These developments were seen as part of Labour’s commitment to making positive changes after being in government for 80 days.
Overall, the political landscape at the Labour conference highlighted key issues such as poverty, foreign relations, devolution, and social welfare, indicating a shift towards progressive policies and initiatives under the new Labour government.
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