Labour conference latest: Healey ‘won’t let benefits bill soar’ as he vows to stick to fiscal rules

Chancellor John Healey is set to deliver a major speech on the economy just hours after Ed Miliband vowed a closer post-Brexit relationship with Europe.

The foreign secretary told conference delegates the UK would pursue a ‘stronger and deeper’ partnership with the EU.

He said: “This is our continent, and if there is one lesson that I have seen demonstrated to me again and again in this job, it is this: Europe is not just our geography, but so much more,” he said.

“And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference: our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union.”

Mr Miliband’s comments come just before the chancellor will take to the stage and vow to take Britain into a “new age of industrialisation” as he confirms a £6bn plan to build three new floating docks at the Royal Navy’s submarine base on the Clyde in Scotland.

As he sets out an economic vision in his address to the Labour Party conference for the first time as chancellor today he will insist that Britain’s “industrial past is being remade now for the modern world”.

Breaking News

John Healey begins his speech at Labour conference

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 12:04

Pictured: Jonathan Reynolds speaking just before chancellor John Healey

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 11:59

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 11:52

Price of diesel in UK hits all-time high, new figures show

Diesel prices have hit a new record high in the UK, passing the previous record set in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A litre averaged 142.38p at the start of the US-Iran war on 28 February this year, which was 56.8p less than today. The previous record high was 199.09p in June 2022.

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 11:29

Miliband warns of 'threat' posed by AI and UK will lead efforts to 'manage' new technology

Mr Miliband warned it must not be left for Big Tech alone to put guardrails on AI to protect the public.

He said: “The technological progress offered by AI, as we see in our daily lives, is inspiring. But the threat it poses, according to its own inventors, is daunting.

“Now, some are calling for us to act, but other tech companies are saying we should leave it all to them. But friends, the lesson of history is that we cannot leave it to corporations to put in place the guardrails to serve the public interest.

“It is neither their purpose nor their motive. Theirs is to maximise profit. We cannot and will not allow that to come at the expense of our children or indeed humanity.

“That’s why, as part of our G20 presidency next year, this country will lead the efforts to manage AI so we keep our country and our world safe.

“And I say, no tech titan should stand in our way. And as we think about our role in the world, we will never be silent about injustice and suffering.”

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 11:07

Miliband receives two standing ovations as he calls out Israeli violence in Gaza and the West Bank

Our political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:

The foreign secretary has enjoyed two enthusiastic standing ovations as he addressed the Labour Party conference.

He said the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank is “a stain on the conscience of the world” and added: “I want to say to the millions of people in this country, and indeed elsewhere, who have been moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people, we hear you. “You were right.”

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 11:01

'Our future lies in deeper partnership with EU’

Our political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:

Ed Miliband has declared that Britain’s future lies in a ‘stronger and deeper’ partnership with the EU.

The foreign secretary said Britain supported Ukraine “as proud Europeans”.

“This is our continent, and if there is one lesson that I have seen demonstrated to me again and again in this job, it is this: Europe is not just our geography, but so much more,” he said.

“And on economics, on defence, on security, I say to this conference: our future lies in a stronger, deeper partnership with the European Union.”

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 10:57

RAF Fairford 'a reminder of the threats our country faces', says Miliband

A suspected terror plot at RAF Fairford is a “reminder of the threats our country faces”, foreign secretary Ed Miliband said.

He told Labour Party conference: “Events at RAF Fairford yesterday are a reminder of the threats our country faces.

“I want to thank our security services, armed forces and police for the work they did yesterday and they do all year round to keep our country safe.

“Friends, we will always stand up for our security against those who would do us harm.”

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 10:56

World order needs ‘rebuilding’, Ed Miliband says

Our political reporter Athena Stavrou reports from Labour conference:

Ed Miliband has told the Labour Party conference that the world order ‘needs rebuilding anew’ amid Putin’s ‘war of terror’ in Ukraine.

The foreign secretary said it is time to “roll up our sleeves all over again, because once again the world order needs rebuilding anew”.

“We need to be honest about the world we confront. War has returned to Europe,” he said.

“Democratic norms are under threat as they haven't been for generations. The international rule of law is being brazenly flouted. New threats have emerged from the climate crisis to AI.”

He added: “There is only one response to these challenges: to fight for our values, the values my parents saw in Britain, values which today are more important than ever.”

Joe Middleton28 September 2026 10:51

Now it's time for the foreign secretary...

Wes Streeting has left the stage to rapturous applause from conference delegates.