Monday, September 23, 2024 Rachel Reeves defiant on winter fuel The chancellor delivered a powerful speech, with echoes of Gordon Brown, to Labour conference in Liverpool. Curiously, the text is not yet on the Labour Party's website.      She made a strong defence of the cut in pensioners' winter fuel payments, ignoring the attempt by Unite the union to force a vote on the subject, which has been postponed until Wednesday. Her words were met with polite applause, but they were certainly brave.    What was surprising, though, was that the rest of the speech was so thin. The only announcement of a new policy was of a pilot scheme for breakfast clubs in 750 schools from April. A pilot scheme? Is that it?   And the trouble the government is in was underlined by the Royal College of Nurses announcing its members had rejected her 5.5 per cent pay offer during her speech.  Written by John Rentoul Quiz question Which two Tory leadership contenders were members of the London assembly? Answer at the bottom of today's email Support The Independent At The Independent, nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own mind and aren't afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.   With your support, we challenge the status quo, uncover crucial stories, and amplify unheard voices. If you like what we do, do take out a subscription and help support the best quality online-only journalism. SUBSCRIBE: 6 MONTHS FOR £66 £1 SUBSCRIBE: 6 MONTHS FOR £66 £1 Daily briefing Tech companies should do more to promote local news, says Lisa Nandy The culture secretary praised local newspapers for their work during the summer riots and said 'we lose them at our peril' Emily Thornberry challenges Keir Starmer to cut post-Brexit border checks New chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee says she has a list of improvements she is happy to give the government Louise Haigh gets on the bus with her socialist transport revolution Transport secretary to focus in her conference speech on the unfashionable subject of buses  What else you need to know today David Maddox reports that cabinet ministers have told Keir Starmer to remove top civil servant immediately to regain his authority The prime minister visited the journalists' dungeon at Labour conference and spoke to many of us in an off-the-record "rolling doughnut" I will be hosting an Ask Me Anything session on The Independent website at 4pm tomorrow, after Keir Starmer's speech – get your questions in now  I wrote at the weekend that Keir Starmer had a plan for the election, but not for government; and I wrote today that the voters' anger at his acceptance of gifts is serious The Independent View Keir Starmer has only a short time to get his government back on track Politics explained Angela Rayner struck an emotional chord with Labour members in tub-thumping conference speech... The deputy prime minister's speech analysed by our political editor – it successfully deflected from the gifts scandal...   Read more MOST COMMENTED Starmer and Gray took football freebie in latest gifts row Tomorrow inside the Liverpool bubble  Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for  Keir Starmer's speech to the Labour conference soon after 2pm. He will depart later for the UN general assembly in New York, which will be addressed by David Lammy, the foreign secretary.    The Labour conference will also hear speeches from Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, at 11.35am, and Shabana Mahmood, the justice secretary, at 4pm. There will be a debate about Labour's mission to deliver "safer streets, stronger policing" at 10am. QUOTATION OF THE DAY "It's time the Treasury moved on from just counting the costs of investments in our economy to recognising the benefits too"   Rachel Reeves, chancellor of the Exchequer, in her Labour conference speech Quiz answer: Kemi Badenoch and James Cleverly The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy