Tories slam Keir Stamer as PM to give major speech as cronyism row rages

Sir Keir Starmer is set to give the first major speech of his premiership tomorrow amid a growing Labour cronyism row.

The Prime Minister is expected to use the address to blame controversial decisions such as stripping millions of pensioners of winter fuel payments on the inheritance left by the Conservatives.

He will ramp up Chancellor Rachel Reeves's claim that the Tories left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances amid mounting fears of Labour tax rises in October's budget.

Sir Keir will compare his Government's task to communities that rallied round to clean up in the wake of recent riots.

In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden, he will say: “Next week, parliament will return. The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual.

“Because we can’t go on like this anymore. No more politics of performance, papering over the cracks, or division and distraction. Things are being done differently now.

“When I stood on the steps of Downing Street two months ago, I promised this government would serve people like you: apprentices, teachers, nurses, small business owners, firefighters - those serving the community and the country every day.

"I promised that we would get a grip on the problems we face, and that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words."

Speaking to an audience of around 50 members of the public he met on the election campaign trail, he will add: “We will do the hard work needed to root out 14 years of rot and reverse a decade of decline."

Sir Keir will claim the riots in UK towns and cities "didn’t just betray the sickness, they revealed the cure, found not in the cynical conflict of populism but in the coming together of a country the morning after and cleared up their community".

He will say: “Because that is who we are, that is what we stand for. People who cared for their neighbour. Communities who stood fast against hatred and division. Emergency services who did their duty - even when they were in danger. And a government that put the people of this country first.”

The Prime Minister, who entered No 10 in July, will warn that "frankly - things will get worse before we get better" as Labour grapples with "not just an economic black hole but a societal black hole".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to hike taxes in her budget on October 30 after accusing the Tories of leaving a £22 billion shortfall in the public finances.

The Prime Minister will add: “This government won’t always be perfect, but I promise this: you will be at the heart of our government and in the forefront of our minds, at the centre of everything we do."

But Conservative chairman Richard Fuller said: “This is nothing but a performative speech to distract the public from the promises Starmer made that he never had any intention of keeping.

“In fewer than 100 days the Labour Party has dumped its ambition of public service and become engulfed in sleaze, handed out bumper payouts to its union paymasters with ‘no strings’ attached and laid the groundwork to harm pensioners and tax working people.”

Accusations of cronyism threaten to derail the key speech after it emerged Lord Alli - who has donated more than £500,000 to Labour over the past 20 years and provided clothing, "multiple pairs of glasses" and accommodation for Sir Keir - was given a pass to Number 10 despite not having a formal job there.

Senior minister Pat McFadden on Sunday insisted it had been a temporary arrangement to allow the Labour peer to attend political meetings and that he no longer had a pass.

But shadow paymaster general John Glen has written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case as the Tories demand answers on who authorised Lord Alli's pass, and when it was issued and rescinded.

Reports about Lord Alli's pass come amid a growing row over jobs in the Civil Service being given to Labour donors.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman said there were "serious questions about probity and rigour and the way government is administered" surrounding Labour.

Hosting an LBC show today, the Tory MP said: "I fully accept its early days coming up to the two-month anniversary since the general election, but there have been some serious problems over the last few weeks.

"I mean, Labour government seems to be, it is embroiled right now in a cronyism row.

"They seem to have issued passes and access and roles to Labour Party donors, as if there's no tomorrow, and, you know, bypassing civil services impartiality rules, serious questions about probity and rigour and the way government is administered have been raised rightly being asked by the Conservative frontbenchers."