In his address to activists, Sir Keir said he wanted people to “look back with pride at the 2024 Labour government in the way they look at the 1945 one”.
The 1945 Labour government was responsible for many of what the party views as its greatest achievements including setting up the National Health Service.
Sir Keir also joked with his supporters that throwing glitter at him was an offence that now amounted to “treason” – a reference to his last conference speech, which was interrupted by a protester.
And he said that since moving into Downing Street he had been “getting to know” Larry, No 10’s cat, adding: “We both spent 14 years chasing pests out of Downing Street.”
The prime minister also used the day before conference starts to reiterate one of his key policies, speeding up housebuilding.
In a statement, he said: “Housebuilding has stalled and planning changes blocked. The country has been held back.”
He said his government was “turning that on its head” and that the introduction of “planning passports” would “put rocket boosters under housebuilding”.
The government says the passports would mean the “default” response to proposals for urban developments would be yes, if they meet design and quality standards. The measure would first be consulted on before being implemented.
Speaking at the conference on Sunday, Rayner will set out the government’s plans on improving homes for renters including implementing Awaab’s Law to ensure properties are decent, warm and safe.
Ahead of her speech, the deputy prime minister said the government was “committing to raising the bar on the poor standards we’ve inherited from the Tories to ensure homes are fit for the future”.
