Labour conference live - Mahmood says 'more to come' on RAF Fairford 'terror attack' as Burnham chairs COBRA meeting

Labour conference live - Mahmood says 'more to come' on RAF Fairford 'terror attack' as Burnham chairs COBRA meeting The Prime Minister told LBC this afternoon that he wanted to get the 'full picture' of what happened at the base, and added he would share more details about the upcoming meeting The Prime Minister announced on the sidelines of the Labour Party Conference today that he would be holding a COBRA meeting to address the RAF Fairford incident, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirming after that she expects there to be "more to say in the days to come". The Home Secretary told a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference that the decision to bail the suspects was a police operational decision. The Home Secretary said: "You will have heard some news from counter-terrorism policing about the release under bail. These are investigations, these are matters for the police, they have got to take the lead on how they use all of the powers at their disposal in cases such as these, but the investigations are continuing. "So there'll be more to say in the days to come, I'm sure, as how those investigations are progressing. I've just come from a Cobra meeting with other colleagues in government chaired by the Prime Minister, and everyone should know that we are focused on this. You shouldn't read anything into the fact that we're limited in what we can say publicly at this stage except for the fact that nobody wants to compromise any investigation or any future court cases either." Speaking with LBC's Shelagh Fogarty from Liverpool this afternoon, Andy Burnham said the security situation will be on the minds of many Brits following the arrests of five men in the nearby village of Whelford on on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences on Sunday. He told LBC that he wanted to get the “full picture” on what had happened at the base used by the British and US air forces in Gloucestershire. Earlier, Wes Streeting gave an update on Britain's national security after five men were arrested over an alleged terror plot at an RAF base. The Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, said our response to any attempt to destroy a two-state solution in the Middle East would be: "we will not let you succeed" And Chancellor John Healey set out plans to reindustrialise Britain with investment in industry and support for apprenticeships - while pledging that getting young people back into work was not just an "economic must" but a "moral duty". The Chancellor used his speech to the Labour Party conference to seek to reassure financial markets with a commitment to being responsible with the nation’s finances Follow along live below.... Key Events What will Burnham say? It's Andy Burnham's first keynote speech as PM to Labour conference on Tuesday. He is expected to use his address to set out a new course for a “Britain where people feel the country has their back again”. He will flesh out his plans for free social care in England, promise measures on youth unemployment and public control of utilities – with a pledge to hold an “honest conversation” about tough issues. Echoing the Liverpool conference’s slogan of “Hope again”, Mr Burnham will tell party members that “hope comes from honesty and from saying the things politicians usually avoid”. Burnham to lay out 'more serious prospectus for Britain' in keynote speech The Prime Minister is set to promise a "more serious prospectus for Britain than people have been offered in a generation" during his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference tomorrow. Sky News reports that he will also call for a more honest conversation with the British public, saying: "We can't carry on as we are. "Politics-as-usual has taken Britain backwards. More of the same isn't good enough and isn’t going to get us where we need to be." Healey warned Budget is 'real test' after conference address Shevaun Havilland, the director of the British Chambers of Commerce, told Sky News following the Chancellor's speech today that Healey mentioned a number of "good things". She said: "He referenced the real cost of doing business at the moment that we're all struggling under. He talked about building confidence, investment, profits, you know, all those good things." But she warned that, for struggling businesses, the real test for the Government would be the upcoming Budget, adding: "I think the test is the budget. That is what we are waiting for... "It's a challenging environment for everybody. But what they need to remember and understand, and I think that the chancellor and the prime minister does, is that only by investing in business will we get the return we need to spend on our public services." Andy Burnham to set up publicly-owned 'Great British Grid' on mission to fix 'broken' energy market Andy Burnham will pledge to drive down energy costs with a new publicly-owned Great British Grid to overhaul the "broken energy market". In his big speech to Labour conference, the Prime Minister will set out plans for greater public control of energy as he warned firms and businesses are left shouldering the cost of energy prices dictated by markets miles away. GB Grid, a new publicly-owned company, will aim to speed up grid connections for businesses and drive down costs by increasing competition in the market. It will also make it easier for firms waiting to connect to build infrastructure themselves so they don't have to wait. It marks the first major step in Mr Burnham's drive to bring essential services back into public control. He told the Mirror last week that Britain took a "series of wrong turns" in the 1980s when the Tories sold off a string of core utilities. Voters 'recoil in horror' at Reform UK deportation policies, Mahmood says The Home Secretary said voters "suddenly recoil in horror" at some of Reform UK's deportation policies. Shabana Mahmood said: "I worry a lot about the sort of Britain that my two nephews and two nieces are going to grow up in. "I wonder if they will have a place in their own land. I do worry as well about that. And then at the same time, I love this country and I believe in our people. "So I also shut that down by thinking because that's actually not what Britain is, that's not who we are. "And I take heart when actually, people who might be, for example, minded to consider voting for Reform UK suddenly recoil in horror when they come forward with policies that are about kicking out people who are residents here, who are citizens here, or start questioning whether the validity of having a passport depends on who it belongs to." 'Left wing must seriously talk about migration or cede ground to racists' Mahmood warns Shabana Mahmood has said left-wing politicians must grasp the debate on migration - warning racists will fill the space if they do not. She said that the number of people coming to live in the UK has been "unprecedented" in recent years, and ceding ground is dangerous. The Home Secretary told a fringe event at the Labour conference: "You do have to accept and understand that the level and the pace of change people have seen in the last few years, it is unprecedented. "It has never happened. It didn't happen when my granddad and my dad came to this country. And in fact, in the last four years, we've seen a level of change that we saw in totality over the previous 40 years. "So when people are saying, 'Hang on a minute, I'm not sure about this', or 'I'm worried' and it's a top issue for them to consider and how they feel about politics and political parties. "I'm not going to sort of turn around and say 'Oh yeah, but we're not going to do anything about that, and we don't want to talk about it,' because that cedes the territory to the racists. "The racists get to talk to more people if mainstream politicians basically vacate that space. And I think vacating the space, not shaping the debate, is a dangerous thing to do." Immigration reforms to straddle 'fairness to those who have come, but also fairness for Brits' Mahmood says Is Shabana Mahmood planning to row back on changes to immigration policy? Both she and Andy Burnham have sent out signals that a carve-out for care workers could be on the cards. Proposals that could see migrant care workers wait 15 years until they qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) have sparked a furious backlash. Pressed at a fringe event about what happens next, Ms Mahmood insisted no decisions have yet been reached. She said: "When I announced the earned settlement reforms, I announced at that time the consultation that we have been undertaking. "I was very clear that we would be looking at transitional arrangements as part of that consultation. What I said today is a sort of articulation of the principles that will underpin the choices that the government will be making in the public interest, in the national interest, when we respond to that consultation. "I've been very clear that the test will be one of fairness, fairness to those who have come, but also fairness for British citizens that in the end pay for the systems that we all rely on. "So it's a question of finding the right balance for that fairness to all sides. That has always been the sort of principal basis of the reforms, and we will be setting policy later this year, so no final decisions have been made. "We've been very carefully analysing the responses to the consultation, engaging more broadly as well with stakeholders, other civil society groups, to make sure that we've heard from everybody that we should. "We will publish all those findings and align with setting up government policy later." Mahmood says there will be 'more to say' about Fairford after PM holds COBRA meeting Speaking after attending a Cobra meeting about the RAF Fairford incident, Shabana Mahmood said she expects there to be "more to say in the days to come". The Home Secretary told a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference that the decision to bail the suspects was a police operational decision. Mahmood said: "I want to be able to share as much information as possible, but I hope people will understand that while investigations are taking place, there is actually a limit to what government ministers can and should say in matters like these. "I want to place on record my thanks to our colleagues in policing and in our security services for the swiftness of their response and the speed at which the investigations are progressing. "So big thank you to them, and also to the people of the local community for their forbearance as investigations are taking place in such a scene. "I don't want to say any more than that at this stage." The Home Secretary continued: "You will have heard some news from counter-terrorism policing about the release under bail. These are investigations, these are matters for the police, they have got to take the lead on how they use all of the powers at their disposal in cases such as these, but the investigations are continuing. "So there'll be more to say in the days to come, I'm sure, as how those investigations are progressing. I've just come from a Cobra meeting with other colleagues in government chaired by the Prime Minister, and everyone should know that we are focused on this. "You shouldn't read anything into the fact that we're limited in what we can say publicly at this stage except for the fact that nobody wants to compromise any investigation or any future court cases either." Mahmood condemns 'masked racists' as she says communities left 'in fear' The Home Secretary has said “masked racists” whose actions threaten communities like hers give her a “shiver of revulsion”. Shabana Mahmood said: “I know the fear that some communities have felt in recent times. “The sense that the forces of division are growing stronger while unifying voices grow weaker. “I have felt the same shiver of revulsion and fear at the sight of racists masked up and dressed all in black whose actions are designed to threaten communities like mine. “I know other communities have felt the same fear, like British Jews facing a rising tide of antisemitism, and targeted by the hostile acts of foreign powers, who plot violence against our fellow countrymen and women. “This country is only truly fair when we are all safe within it.” Home Secretary promises to expand safe asylum routes after Channel deaths Shabana Mahmood has pledged to expand legal routes to claim asylum in the UK - saying three deaths in the Channel on Monday show the urgent need to act. The Home Secretary said cruel smuggling gangs must not get to decide who comes to the UK - pledging to work with the United Nations (UN) to give refugees a chance to rebuild their lives. A quarter of those who come will be women from Afghanistan escaping the Taliban and people fleeing the horrors of Gaza, Ms Mahmood said. Her pledge came hours after a 10-year-old child and two women died attempting to cross the Channel when their dinghy capsized. Migration reforms to be balanced with 'fairness' Mahmood promises Mahmood has promised her migration reforms will “come to a position that balances fairness”. She said: “I know that, throughout our consultation process, some have said elements of these reforms are not fair. “To that, let me say this: We will come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally, and fairness to British citizens across this country. “Fairness cannot end at our borders. It must extend to every street in this country.” 'We must restore control' Shabana Mahmood says during conference address To restore fairness in the UK, “we must restore control”, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said. Speaking at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, Mahmood said fairness is “what unites us in this country” and it was her job “to create that fairness”. “There is nothing fair about a lack of control at our borders,” she said. “It is not fair that criminal gangs determine who comes to this country. “It is not fair that they put dangerous boats into the water, with no regard for human life – shown once again today, with three more tragic deaths in the Channel. “It is not fair that those with a genuine need of protection cannot find a safe and legal way to claim asylum. “It is also not fair that communities across this country have been asked to bear so great a burden, with around 90,000 people living in asylum accommodation. For that reason, to restore fairness, we must restore control.” She said the work was beginning to bear fruit, with small boat arrivals down significantly, with “this summer recording the lowest number since 2021”. Burnham says visa reforms should 'strike the right balance' after Rayner's comments Andy Burnham rejected suggestions Shabana Mahmood’s planned visa changes may not happen because Angela Rayner views them as “un-British”, but said reforms would need to “strike the right balance”. It was put to the Prime Minister that the proposals may not go forward after the Housing Secretary called them “un-British”, to which he replied: “Well, no, I wouldn’t put it that way. “I think what we’ve got to do is strike the right balance and that’s what the end result of the consultation will be.” Asked whether he was “Team Shabana” or “Team Angela,” he told LBC: “I’m both of them, I’m Team Angela and Shabana. “But it just reflects that there’s a consultation, there’s different not just opinions from politicians, but obviously there’s a range of views that have gone into that consultation, so we’re in the process now of looking at that.” 'I don't like the scenes I've seen' PM says as he mulls balaclava ban Asked whether he would enact a balaclava ban on the UK after masked anti-immigrant protesters took to the street across the country, the PM said he did not want to go quite that far. He said: "I don't like the scenes I've seen in recent weeks, people wearing black balaclavas, black clothing on British streets. "You don't want to necessarily reach for extreme measures but when people are causing fear and intimidation in communities you have to prevent them doing that." The PM said there could be "localised provisions", adding that he wouldn't go as far as a blanket ban. Watch: Moment Andy Burnham says he will chair COBRA meeting PM to chair COBRA over RAF Fairford The PM has confirmed that he will be chairing COBRA over the situation at RAF Fairford, telling LBC's Shelagh Fogarty that the meeting would take place this afternoon. He said: "I will chair a meeting of COBRA later this afternoon to make sure we have the full picture. I will say more about that later today." Labour 'won't walk away' from fighting climate crisis Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has vowed not to “walk away” from fighting the climate crisis.She warns this summer “something changed”, and climate change is no longer a problem just hitting areas outside Britain.In a dig at the Tories and Reform, she said: “This summer something changed. Climate change stopped being a warning about the future, or happening somewhere else. The hottest summer since records began. Families suffering in homes that were simply too hot. Homes lost in wildfires in places that we never thought would burn.“Around the world we saw the same or worse. Climate change is here, there can be no doubt about it. And yet, today there are politicians who refuse to see what we can all see, who are prepared to play politics with our communities and our children's futures.” Home Secretary to deliver speech hours after Channel tragedy Mirror Politics correspondent Dave Burke writes... Shabana Mahmood's speech this afternoon comes in the wake of another tragedy in the Channel.Three people, including a child, have died, bringing the death toll so far this year to at least 16. It piles more pressure on the government to finally tackle the vile trade putting lives at risk.In her speech Ms Mahmood is expected to announce an expansion of safe routes, with Afghan women and Palestinians expected to account for a quarter of those approved.Following this morning's deaths, Imran Hussain, executive director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said: "We are deeply saddened to learn three people, including a child, have died, and more may have been seriously injured while crossing the Channel in the hope of finding safety in Britain. We are thinking about the many people who will have been affected by this morning's tragedy.“Refugees are often ordinary people who have been through unimaginably difficult situations. Too many men, women and children are forced on treacherous journeys like these, not by choice, but through desperation and the lack of safe alternatives."Today we welcome the Government's commitment to expanding safe and legal routes for refugees, an essential policy for undermining the people smugglers’ business model. This morning's Channel tragedy only reminds us of the urgent need to do more, and the need to support refugees through safe routes in the thousands, not hundreds." 'Ways we can work together' with EU and other non-members, says Ed Miliband Ed Miliband said he was not 'pitching for associate membership' when he told the Labour conference the UK’s future lay in a deeper relationship with the EU. Speaking at a fringe event at the conference, the Foreign Secretary said: “I was at the EU informal foreign ministers’ meeting in Ireland at the beginning of September and round the table you had the foreign ministers meeting of Ukraine, Canada, Iceland that had just voted narrowly not to begin accession talks, and the UK and indeed Norway. “And I think we remarked around the table that there was a sort of wider grouping. “I think it does go to the (Mark) Carney agenda, by the way, which is countries working together, united by values, by alliances, on a whole range of issues. “So, I’m certainly not pitching for associate membership, but I think there are ways that we can work together.” Chancellor vows not to write off a million young people - 'moral duty' John Healey attempted to make the moral case for welfare reform today as he vowed not to write off a million young people who are out of work. In his first major address to the party's conference as Chancellor, Mr Healey unveiled an extra £100million fighting fund to tackle Britain's 'Neets' crisis. He described the cash as "down-payment" on an imminent review by Alan Milburn into the thorny issue of youngsters not in education, employment or training. The Chancellor said the scheme - led by mayors with local teams - would help thousands and would be "a bit like football scouts for apprenticeships". The £100million scheme will be fully funded through fraud and error savings identified by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), he added. An estimated 981,000 youngsters between the ages of 16 and 24 were out of work between April and June - 30,000 higher than a year ago. Read more: Chancellor John Healey vows not to write off a million young people in major speech - 'moral duty' YouGov poll reveals 94% of Labour members think Andy Burnham is doing a good job New YouGov polling has revealed that 94% of Labour party members believe he is doing a good job as Prime Minister - while other familiar cabinet faces also get top ratings. Ed Miliband is second favourite in the poll, comissioned by Sky News and iNHouse Communications, with 86% believing he is doing well as foreign secretary. Angela Rayner is on 76%, health secretary Yvette Cooper wins the approval of 68% and chancellor John Healey comes in with 66%. Defence secretary Wes Streeting and culture secretary Lisa Nandy appear to come in for the most critcism, with 15-17% dissatisfied at their job performance so far, though both are still on favourable ratings by around a 40-point margin. Rolls Royce to invest £300m across UK, announces Chancellor Chancellor John Healey said Rolls-Royce will invest £300 million in plants in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham. He told the Labour Party conference: “In Derby, where they made the Spitfire engines, Rolls-Royce now build nuclear reactors and put the UK at the front of clean energy globally. “And so today I can announce that Rolls-Royce will invest an extra £300 million pounds into its British factories in Derby, in Bristol, in Glasgow and in Rotherham. “This is the new age of industrialisation, this is the new confidence in Britain lit by this Government, driven forward by business.” Unison chief makes wealth tax demand The head of Unison has called on Chancellor John Healey to bring in more wealth taxes following his speech at the Labour conference. Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said the language of hope must be accompanied with investment for public services. She said: “It was reassuring to hear the chancellor talk about bringing back hope. The government now needs to show the public why they are better off under Labour. That means investing properly in public services. “There’s no path to growth and better living standards without improving the essential services people rely on. “It’s time to make good on the commitment to bring public services back in-house. Ending the scourge of outsourcing is vital to stop vast amounts of public cash going to private firms “It would have been good to hear the chancellor make a commitment to raising money by taxing the wealthiest so those with the broadest shoulders bear a fairer burden.” What do we know about Shabana Mahmood's speech? One of the big moments today will be Shabana Mahmood addressing the conference at 4pm. The Home Secretary will announce an extension of safe and legal routes - a move she says will be a hammer blow to small boat smugglers. Ms Mahmood will confirm the reopening of the UK resettlement scheme, with a quarter of arrivals expected to be Afghan women and girls and Palestinians. At the moment campaigners warn that people from large parts of the world have no means of applying for asylum from overseas - meaning they must enter the country in order to have their applications heard. In her speech at the Labour Party conference, Ms Mahmood will say: “I know the British people have not given up on their belief that we should be compassionate, live up to our international obligations, and save the lives of those fleeing war and persecution. But I also know this process must be capped and controlled, and communities must be ready and able to welcome those who come here. "This is what we can do and who we can be as we restore control to our borders, bear down on the small boat crossings, and unlock the inherent generosity of this country.” Rolls Royce to spend £300m across UK, announces Chancellor Chancellor John Healey said Rolls-Royce will invest £300 million in plants in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham. He told the Labour Party conference: “In Derby, where they made the Spitfire engines, Rolls-Royce now build nuclear reactors and put the UK at the front of clean energy globally. “And so today I can announce that Rolls-Royce will invest an extra £300 million pounds into its British factories in Derby, in Bristol, in Glasgow and in Rotherham. “This is the new age of industrialisation, this is the new confidence in Britain lit by this Government, driven forward by business.” John Healey and Andy Burnham share a hug The Chancellor - who made a number of friends gags about the Prime Minister's music taste and pub snack choices - shared a sweet moment with his Number 10 neighbour before leaving the stage. It was well recieved by delegates, who appeared happy at the tone and content of the speech. Analysis: 'Hope' is the word in Chancellor's first conference speech Mirror Politics correspondent Dave Burke writes... One thing that stands out from that speech - John Healey said the word "hope" 21 times.A year ago things the mood was downcast, with Keir Starmer under fire from all sides and Labour slumping in the polls.Andy Burnham and co are keen to draw a line under those troubled times with a more upbeat message. In one telling moment Mr Healey told delegates: "So, despite everything we face, there are many reasons for optimism."New leadership. New confidence. New hope."Describing his ambition to help young people, Mr Healey said: "I believe we can help this generation. "To go from Generation Jeopardy to Generation Hope." On another occasion he said: "These times demand of us greater resolve. Greater determination. Greater hope. "To build a more resilient country." And he closed off his speech by stating: "That’s our job now. To light the way for a generation that’s been told there’s no way through."Good work. Fresh hope. A new age of industry. "And the solidarity that has always carried this country forward. "A country that can hope again. A country that will hope again. Earned by Labour. Delivered for Britain." Labour to bring back union learning fund The Chancellor has announced that the Union Learning Fund - a government grant scheme set up in 1998 to help trade unions provide workplace training and skills courses - will be re-introduced after being abolished by the previous Tory government. He said: "I'm proud of the fact that last time 180,000 workers every year got new training through that fund. "And we'll do that again. Better skills, better prospects for British workers because of the decisions taken by this Labour government." Healey promises 'generation hope' The Labour government will help this generation move from “generation jeopardy to generation hope”, the chancellor said. He said: “Conference, it is not progressive to allow a bigger and bigger benefits bill, and a system which offers an income but doesn’t offer a future. “So once again, as a Labour government, it falls to us to act. And this is more than just an economic must. This is a moral duty. “I refuse to write off a million young people like the Tories have done.” He added: “I see a generation born this century, digital natives, whip-smart, questioning, ambitious, brave, I see the best asset we have in our young people, and I believe this generation has the potential to be a great generation. “And I believe we can help this generation move from generation jeopardy to generation hope.” 'We don't have the money new Labour had' Britain does not have the money it did under New Labour, John Healey said as he laid bare the 'pain' caused by Tory economic failure. The Chancellor told the Labour Party conference in Liverpool: “I know the 90s is having a bit of a revival. To Andy’s excitement, Oasis is going back on tour, to Angela’s joy Gladiators is back on TV. But I have to level with you conference, the money New Labour had in the 90s is simply not there now. “Economic growth under Gordon (Brown) was more than double the Tory years that followed, and Britain has it harder now.” Attacking “14 years of flatlining Tory growth and living standards”, he said his message to the Conservatives was: “Your reckless actions are still causing pain to people today. You left crumbling public services, and you left Britain spending more on debt, more on debt than the Home Office, Defence, and Justice put together. “And people won’t forget. People won’t forgive. “The cost of the nation’s debt is not just a number in a Chancellor’s budget. It’s the money that we can’t spend on the NHS, on schools, on housing, on social care, on policing our streets, on controlling our borders, on defending our country. “I tell you, these levels of debt are an assault on our common sense. They’re an affront to our values, and that’s why the Prime Minister and I are in lockstep, that we will meet the fiscal rules, that we will maintain control of Britain’s finances.”