Labour are “bang on schedule” to win the next general election, Sir Keir Starmer has said as the party’s annual conference gets underway in Liverpool this morning. 

The Labour leader told activists not to become “giddy” at the prospect of winning power, with the party buoyant after its Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election victory and a consistent double-digit opinion poll lead over the Tories. 

Sir Keir told The Observer: “We’re coming to this conference bang on schedule. This is where we intend to answer that question ‘Why Labour?’ with confidence and a coherent plan.”

The Labour leader said of the tone of the party’s annual gathering: “It is not going to be giddy, it is not going to be ‘job done’.” 

Sir Keir will be hoping to use the conference in Liverpool - potentially the final one before the election expected next year - to build momentum behind his leadership and to cement the party’s opinion poll lead over Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives.

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