Keir Starmer emphasises Labour’s ‘new leadership’ in party conference speech

In his first set-piece speech since taking the helm, Sir Keir said that Labour will “put family first” as he declares his patriotism for the UK.
Sir Keir addressed party members in his first party conference since becoming leader in the wake of its worst defeat in a general election since 1935.
Labour had been losing support in traditional heartlands over successive elections, but December’s vote saw swathes of seats fall to Boris Johnson’s Conservatives.
Sir Keir pitched that by being “a credible opposition” and by “taking the job seriously” he can regain the electorate’s trust.
“I ask you: take another look at Labour. We’re under new leadership. We love this country as you do,” he told members at the conference being held online because of coronavirus.
Some voters questioned whether Corbyn was patriotic, but Sir Keir stressed his own values in an attempt to restore support for the party.
“My vision for Britain is simple: I want this to be the best country to grow up in and the best country to grow old in. A country in which we put family first,” Sir Keir said.
“A country that embodies the values I hold dear. Decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security. Security for our nation, our families and all of our communities.
“That vision”, he said from Doncaster, will include “properly-funded public services” and a “world-class education which unleashes everyone’s potential”.
Sir Keir, having been warned by the party’s left not to stray too far to the right in trying to win support, said the way forward is “working hand-in-hand with businesses and trade unions” to create high-quality jobs.
And he said that the nation should be committed to “a greener, cleaner and fairer society”, in which policies are judged by what they do “for the planet tomorrow”. 
After the prime minister came under widespread criticism for threatening to break international law over Brexit, Sir Keir pledged to ensure the UK is “once again admired and respected”.
Sir Keir said the nation should lead by example in tackling the climate crisis while being “an active force for good in the world”. 
Corbyn was to make his first major public appearance when addressing an online rally of the Socialist Campaign Group.
His ally, the Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, is among those to have warned Sir Keir that he could “steer the ship on to the rocks” if he tried to ignore the Labour left.
Sir Keir also called on Boris Johnson to bring forward a national strategy enforced by an independent body “to close the education gap” as he pressures the prime minister over the exams fiasco and delays in getting children back to school during the pandemic.
Amanda Milling, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, responded: “If you take another look at Labour, the leadership may be new, but the attitudes to Brexit, immigration and the economy remain the same.
“For all his platitudes, the reality is that Sir Keir refuses to take a position on the most important issues facing our country, always preferring to carp from the sidelines.”