Labour Leader Keir Starmer’s conference speech – Friends of the Earth reaction

• ***Friends of the Earth spokespeople are available for interview or briefing at Labour Party Conference***

With Labour Party Conference entering its final stretch, Keir Starmer addressed delegates in Liverpool today to set out his vision for the next Labour government if elected. Reacting, Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Keir Starmer’s speech, along with much of what else we’ve heard at the conference, really marked a gear shift for Labour that sets them well apart from the Conservatives on how they’ll tackle the interlinked climate, energy and cost of living crises.

“From the leadership down, we’ve heard the party holding strong on honouring its commitment to invest £6bn on insulating the nation’s cold, heat-leaking homes, plans to massively ramp up the UK’s homegrown renewable power and long due recognition that we must go much further and faster on climate.

“New green infrastructure is clearly essential too, but it must not come at the cost of our natural world, nor the wishes of local communities. Addressing the nature crisis is just as important to our future wellbeing and prosperity as the climate emergency.”