‘No strategy, programme or project’: Labour divided ahead of conference

Keir Starmer is hoping his first in-person conference speech can unite party but he faces uphill task

Keir Starmer will be packing the laptop as well as the buckets and spades as he heads off to Devon for a family break later this month: aides say he plans to use the holiday to work on a first draft of his party conference speech.

It will be the Labour leader's first address to the party faithful in person - last year's was delivered online from an empty arts centre in Doncaster - and both fans and detractors agree it will have to be the speech of his life.