Labour’s suit and tie brigade is back in town. Gone are the days of CND badges and h, Liverpool is until Wednesday, at least, a bustling hub of social democrats.
Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Merseyside yesterday. Welcomed by a sea of Union Jack-clutching activists, the Prime Minister entered the ACC accompanied by his wife, Lady Victoria.
However, Sir Keir’s patriotic pitch is currently falling on deaf ears. A slickly put-together social media video released ahead of the Labour Party Conference hailed Britain as the best country in the world.
Featuring copious cups of tea, Roger Moore as James Bond, and the Lionesses' Euros victory, the video went viral on TikTok.
Unfortunately for Labour staffers, lots of the comments were quite clear. “Right message, wrong messenger,” one user wrote. Another added: “Reposted. Saw it was a Labour video. Unreposted.”
And it was not just on social media that the Prime Minister faced fury.
Campaign group Together is planning a protest at midday today
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As the night fell on Liverpool, one light shone brightly for Sir Keir’s critics, and it wasn’t St John’s Beacon.
A group of activists, furious by Labour’s plan to introduce Digital ID, have set about informing Liverpudlians about an upcoming protest.
An advertisement, which features Sir Keir alongside a rather demonic victim of totalitarian control, was flashed up on the other side of the Mersey in Birkenhead.
It also went on display at the Anglican Church on Hope Street and New Brighton on Victoria Road.
Time will tell how many of the more than two million signatories attend today’s protest on Kings Dock Street.
Pro-Palestine activists have also criticised the PM for his stance on Gaza
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And the Prime Minister’s efforts to recognise Palestine appear to have done little to quell keffiyeh-clad activists.
Sir Keir’s efforts, decried by many as appeasing Hamas terrorists, have come too little, too late for pro-Palestine activists.
Just a stone’s throw from the ACC, anti-Labour posters were emblazoned across a bus stop.
The poster, featuring Sir Keir’s face, reads: “Wanted: Labour Government. For fuelling genocide in Gaza.”
The Prime Minister is likely to take little notice of pro-Palestine fury at a bus stop.
Despite his grandstanding about Rishi Sunak’s travel choices, Sir Keir isn’t exactly likely to be jumping on the shuttle bus to the city centre any time soon.
However, Palestine certainly sits as a top issue for the Prime Minister’s hard-left critics.
“A terrifying day for the world and for everyone who values democracy and freedom,” one prominent Cabinet Minister said after Donald Trump’s 2016 victory.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has been on some journey since his apoplectic warning about the US President.
Following the lead of Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Mr Reed is no longer crowing about Mr Trump.
He has transformed his message from attacks against Mr Trump's alleged "toxic, racist and misogynistic" views to defend Sir Keir's position on the so-called special relationship.
Mr Reed recently stopped short of criticising Mr Trump's controversial plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and refused to say who he wanted to win the last US
However, it would appear that “City Steve” is taking his newfound admiration one step further.
Mobbed by Labour loyalists, the Housing Secretary was dishing out hundreds of signed Labour Yimby hats.
To the untrained eye, the scarlet hats resemble Mr Trump’s iconic Make America Great Again merchandise.
Steve Reed channelled his inner Donald Trump by signing red Labour Yimby hats
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And it would appear that Mr Reed is even taking a spin on Mr Trump’s own slogans.
Mr Trump, who lifted his Make America Great Again line from Republican hero Ronald Reagan, frequently says: “Drill, baby, drill.”
However, with an eye on Labour’s ambitious 1.5 million home housebuilding target, Mr Reed’s message is also clear.
“Build, baby, build,” has quickly become the Housing Secretary’s rallying cry.
But Mr Reed better start laying bricks quickly. The UK is currently sitting on a housing shortage of 6.5 million homes, with recent migration surges fuelling further fears.
In fact, Mr Reed's switch to Housing comes after Angela Rayner oversaw planning permission for new homes dropping to its lowest level since 2012.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick snatched the crown as the housebuilding king, with residential planning approvals peaking in 2021 after an unprecedented post-Covid rebound.
Mr Reed's stunt also raised eyebrows among the Conservative Yimby group.
James Yucel, who is director of the rapidly growing movement, said: "First they came for our motto. Then they came for our hats."
He added: "Everyone knows Reed is just a mouthpiece with no policy substance at this point, being wheeled out for hat-signings and TikTok videos.
"MHCLG is really being run by Pennycook and his neo-Marxist Shelter advisors, which is why 1.5 million homes is a total fantasy."
While No10 may be going into the Labour Party Conference fearing a showdown with Andy Burnham, an all-female clash stole the show on Saturday night.
In a precursor to the official hustings bout between the pair, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and former Commons Leader Lucy Powell rocked up to LGBT+ Labour's disco event.
As hundreds gathered for Labour's first big party of conference season, Ms Phillipson and Ms Powell attempted to woo the crowd. But it wasn't the time for policy or substance, it was the time for tracks and vibes.
Ms Phillipson, who jived to Blondie's 1979 hit Heart of Glass, appeared slightly awkward as she tried to win over the crowd.
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With her arms aloft, Ms Powell really got stuck into it, blaring out Sophie Ellis-Bextor's iconic 2001 track, Murder on the Dancefloor.
"Powell has won this, hands down," one attendee said. "The crowd is on her side. She's connecting so much more easily. She's more natural."
They added: "Powell is the easy winner of night one of the deputy leadership contest."
The showdown comes after Ms Phillipson opened up a comfortable advantage over Ms Powell among Labour MPs and also Constituency Labour Party groups.
However, the latest Labour List opinion poll handed Ms Powell a 22-point lead over Ms Phillipson.
There's a lot to play for next week, but it's a tough task for Ms Phillipson after last night's DJ antics.
Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Merseyside yesterday alongside his wife, Lady Victoria.
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It is fair to say that the mood among Labour MPs is far less gleeful than it was last year.
Following Sir Keir’s landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, hundreds of fresh-faced Labour MPs crammed into the ACC to loyally listen to the Prime Minister.
While there is no sign that Labour MPs will skip conference, former donor Sacha Lord is giving it a miss this time.
Mr Lord, who also served as an adviser to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, is fuming about Labour’s decision to hike National Insurance Contributions.
He is now expected to appear at the Tory Party Conference in Manchester next week, interestingly alongside Mr Burnham.
However, GB News also heard from one veteran Labour MP who had to make some last-minute changes to get to Liverpool.
Having been called for jury service, the former Shadow Cabinet Minister looked poised to swerve this year’s sombre soirée.
But after the trial date was changed, the softly spoken MP was able to delay his cameo court appearance to trek up to Liverpool.