Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled a package of changes in her keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference on Monday. Rachel Reeves has said Labour is “not a party of protest” as her keynote conference speech was disrupted by hecklers. In her first conference speech as Chancellor, Ms Reeves received applause and a standing ovation as she began. But shortly afterwards a protester was hauled out while complaining about the Government’s arms sales to Israel. The Chancellor shot back: “This is a changed Labour Party, a Labour Party that represents working people, not a party of protest.” Campaign group Climate Resistance claimed responsibility for the protest.
Ms Reeves’ speech, a little over a month before her first Budget on October 30, was an attempt to strike a more optimistic tone about the UK’s economy after months of gloomy messages about the inheritance she was left by the Tories. She said: “Because I know how much damage has been done in those 14 years, let me say one thing straight up: there will be no return to austerity. Conservative austerity was a destructive choice for our public services and for investment and growth too. Yes, we must deal with the Tory legacy and that means tough decisions but I won’t let that dim our ambition for Britain. So it will be a budget with real ambition, a budget to fix the foundations, a budget to deliver the change that we promised, a budget to rebuild Britain.”
In her speech, she announced that free breakfast clubs in England will start to be rolled out from April in hundreds of schools. It was, she said, “an investment in our young people, an investment in reducing child poverty and investment in our economy”.
The Chancellor also announced a series of key policies during her speech. The first policy highlighted was the School Breakfast Club Pilot, which will invite up to 750 schools with primary aged pupils to take part in a £7 million breakfast club pilot from April to July 2025. This initiative aims to tackle child poverty and ensure children are ready to learn by reducing food insecurity among students.
Another policy unveiled by Chancellor Reeves was the appointment of a Covid Corruption Commissioner to oversee Covid-era PPE contracts, ensuring accountability and preventing unnecessary spending. In addition, reforms to the Industrial Strategy were announced to stimulate economic growth, promote clean energy, and enhance regional development.
Furthermore, a package of reforms to improve the UK’s tax system was outlined, with a focus on introducing electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) to enhance efficiency and reduce errors in tax returns. The reforms also included the appointment of a new Chair for the HMRC Board and the development of a Digital Transformation Roadmap to strengthen HMRC’s digital capabilities.
Overall, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ speech at the Labour Party Conference introduced a range of progressive policies aimed at revitalising the UK economy, addressing social issues, and promoting sustainable growth. With these changes, the government seeks to build a stronger and more inclusive economy for the benefit of all citizens.