Starmer makes most important speech of political career

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View online September 30, 2021   1 / Keir Starmer presents himself as serious leader for difficult times Sir Keir Starmer presented himself as the serious leader needed for the crises Britain faces, as he criticised Boris Johnson for being a "trivial man" without a plan.   In the most important speech of his political career at Labour's annual conference, the leader sought to reposition the party "right at the heart of British public", disavowing the leftist approach of predecessor Jeremy Corbyn that had led to "obliteration" at the polls.   After a bruising week that has seen rows with the left and the resignation of a shadow cabinet minister, he faced down persistent heckles from backers of a £15 minimum wage, telling them: "At this time on a Wednesday it's normally the Tories that are heckling me, it doesn't bother me then, and it doesn't bother me now."   2 / Sarah Everard spent 'last hours on Earth with very worst of humanity,' says mother Victim's father demands killer Wayne Couzens looks at him as family read victim impact statements in court   3 / French fishermen could block British ports over Brexit dispute with Jersey, politician warns Minister accuses UK of not abiding by new agreement 4 / Sunak faces last-minute call to extend furlough amid warnings London workers will be hardest hit Removing support would be 'devastating for countless families already facing a winter of spiralling bills and cuts to working benefits'   5 / Fuel shortages: Petrol station staff receiving 'high level of abuse' despite signs crisis easing Reports emerge of fights on forecourts The Big Question     Can vitamin A restore people's sense of smell after Covid? A new study is set to examine the effect of vitamin A nasal drops on those who have lost their sense of smell after contracting Covid-19 in the hope of restoring their ability to detect scents and fragrances.   Anosmia or smell blindness is one of the key symptoms of the respiratory disease, alongside loss of taste, persistent coughing and high temperatures. In some cases a sufferer's ability to detect smells may return naturally after their recovery from the initial illness but others have reported being left with the condition for much longer.   Could the fat-soluble vitamin, present in dairy and vegetables and known to have a beneficial impact on the immune system, the eyesight and the skin, provide relief for one of Covid's most subtly unpleasant legacies? Read the full story >   Watch / Wayne Couzens claims Romanian gang 'made him abduct Sarah Everard to pay off debts' NUMBER OF THE DAY 233,000 The number of people in the UK left temporaily without an energy supplier after Ofgem announced Enstroga, Igloo Energy and Symbio Energy are ceasing to trade QUOTE OF THE DAY "She spent her last hours on this earth with the very worst of humanity."   –  Sarah Everard's mother Susan reading a statement at the Old Bailey in London during Wayne Couzens' two day sentencing for Sarah's murder  Other stories you might like Wayne Couzens kidnapped Sarah Everard using handcuffs and 'fake Covid arrest' Drivers must remove GB car stickers when in Europe under Brexit travel changes Security experts urge iPhone users to remove Visa as a transport card via Apple Pay If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters.     Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.