Starmer Uses Global Conference to Frame Labour’s Stance Amid Burnham Dispute and Digital ID Debate

Keir Starmer will address a gathering of centre-left leaders at the Global Progressive Action Conference on Friday, aiming to frame Labour’s direction as it faces a rising Reform UK and a fiercer political environment. He is expected to tell delegates that it is time to “look ourselves in the mirror and recognise where we’ve allowed our parties to shy away from people’s concerns,” positioning the conference as a vehicle to articulate a global, progressive alternative. The prime minister will argue that the defining political choice of our times is between a politics of predatory grievance and a politics of patriotic renewal, a contrast he says Labour must make tangible through policy and leadership. The event is also meant to demonstrate how Labour and its sister outfits around the world can respond to conservative insurgencies with a coherent, rights-based approach to work, immigration, and public services.

The Global Progressive Action Conference gathers Labour and allied movements from multiple countries to discuss strategy, policy, and how to compete with Reform UK and its international equivalents. Starmer’s remarks are framed as part of a broader effort to give definition to his premiership and to show a practical example of Democratic governance in action. He will reportedly use the platform to map a path that, in his view, can mobilise working people by addressing their concerns directly and presenting a unified alternative to the bloc believed to be redefining politics in many democracies. The event coincides with a wave of domestic headlines about Labour tensions and the government’s policy agenda, illustrating how the UK is balancing inward debates with outward messaging on the world stage.

The domestic spotlight has lately shone on Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, whose interviews and economic proposals have intensified perceptions of a party wrestling with its own direction. Starmer’s team has privately expressed irritation at Burnham’s tactics, particularly when contrasted with the prime minister’s preferred narrative. The prime minister’s allies have said Burnham’s approach has complicated Labour’s ability to deliver a single, coherent message about the party’s economic and social priorities. The public exchange reached a notable moment when Starmer drew a sharp line between Burnham’s criticisms and the memory of leadership decisions that some view as economic missteps, a comparison that underscored the friction within the Parliamentary Labour Party and the wider movement.

Amid the autumnal policy chatter, London’s headlines also highlighted the government’s proposal for compulsory digital ID. Starmer intends to frame the digital ID plan as a concrete policy tool to deter illegal working and, by extension, illegal immigration, while also giving Labour a clear point of contrast with opponents. The plan has drawn opposition from Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party, who argue it risks civil liberties or is poorly conceived. The Conservative stance has been more uncertain, with some members calling it a “desperate gimmick” and others indicating openness to revision if convinced of its effectiveness and safeguards. The attendance at the conference of international figures—listed as Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a Canadian Prime Minister in the notes—signals an attempt to frame the measure within a broader, cross-border push for strong but principled governance.

Labour’s internal debates reflect a longer-running concern that the party has lacked a precise, defensible direction. Manchester’s Burnham has suggested a sharper articulation of Labour’s values and a clearer communication strategy, messages that some colleagues fear could fracture a fragile unity. In private, many Labour MPs acknowledge the difficulty of reconciling Burnham’s willed approach with the broader party line, even as the party tries to mobilize voters who feel their concerns have been overlooked by traditional political elites. Burnham’s supporters view his outspokenness as a necessary corrective to perceived complacency, while his critics worry it diverts attention from the party’s core messaging and policy groundwork.

Whether Starmer’s global address translates into durable domestic political capital remains a key question for Labour as it seeks to navigate a complex landscape. The government’s policy maneuvers, the internal tensions over direction, and the challenge of presenting a distinct, policy-driven alternative to Reform UK will continue to shape the party’s strategy in the months ahead. The conference is being watched not only for its rhetoric but for whether it yields a concrete blueprint that can withstand scrutiny at home and abroad, and whether Starmer can maintain a sense of unity within his party as it confronts a generational shift in British politics.