David Lammy speech at Labour conference

Thank you, Bohdan. You epitomise the bravery and courage of every Ukrainian. 

Delegates we meet as the dark clouds of Putin’s war are raining bombs down on Ukrainian cities for the second year.   

Our message to every Ukrainian with us today is this:   

If Labour wins the next election, Britain’s support for you will not waver.   

We will support you to victory. 

And when you win, we will support you on your rightful path to join NATO. 

Conference, I must start by addressing the events of the past few days. 

Labour utterly condemns Hamas’ appalling attack on Israel.   

There is never, never a justification for terrorism. 

Labour stands firmly in support of Israel’s right to defend itself, rescue hostages​ and protect its citizens.  

The hostages so cruelly taken – including children - should be released immediately. 

Hamas’ indiscriminate attacks set back the cause of peace. 

Both Israelis and Palestinians are paying a terrible price.      

There will not be a just and lasting peace until Israel is secure, Palestine is a sovereign state, and both Israelis and Palestinians enjoy security, dignity and human rights. 

Though it may never have felt more distant, we will not surrender the hope of two states living side by side in peace 

Conference, all of us remember why we joined the Labour Party. 

For me, growing up poor in the shadow of Tottenham’s Broadwater Farm Estate, that moment came during Thatcher’s government. 

I saw what happened to communities like mine when a Prime Minister acted only in the interests of a narrow group of wealthy supporters.   

I knew only Labour could stand up for working people. 

At home and on the world stage. 

Today, the Conservatives are missing in action once again. 

Last month Rishi Sunak became the first Prime Minister in a decade to skip the UN General Assembly. 

While world leaders gathered for climate week, Sunak stayed in London to row back on climate and make up nonsense about seven bins. 

Keir Starmer won’t just turn up.   

He will stand up for Britain in the world.   

When The Tories betray our children on climate, we will stand up. 

When the Tories diminish Britain’s influence by neglecting international development and the global south, we will stand up.  

When the Tories threaten to take us out of the European Convention on Human Rights, what will we do? 

Stand up.   

When the Home Secretary attacks LGBT+ refugees, what will we do?  

Stand up. 

And when they say we can’t work closely with our friends in Europe anymore, what will we do?   

Stand up. 

Because Labour values do not stop at the English Channel.    

We are the party of internationalism. 

The party of Atlee and Bevin.  

NATO and the United Nations. 

Labour will reconnect Britain for our security and prosperity.   

Because we know a strong Britain is not a lonely Britain.   

But a United Kingdom whose alliances give her strength. 

Delegates, I’m proud that four years ago I vice-chaired Keir Starmer’s leadership campaign. 

His transformation of our party offers our first real chance to win a general election in a generation. 

But we must sober about the responsibilities we hope to inherit. 

Since I was last a Minister, the world has become more dangerous. 

War on our continent. 

A climate emergency.  

Dizzying technological change. 

Rising powers. 

And energy weaponised. 

In this new world, foreign policy has increasingly become industrial policy.  

Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, The EU’s and China’s industrial strategies are changing the balance of power.  

In only three years China has become the world's largest car exporter with over 280 gigafactories.  

The United States has over 30.  

Germany 9. 

And Britain? 

Just one is producing batteries so far. 

Delegates, the Conservatives’ moth-eaten, laissez-faire economics has made Britain poorer.   

No plan for industry. 

No plan to secure critical minerals. 

No Net Zero. Just Zero. 

With Keir Starmer’s Green Prosperity Plan, Team GB will finally enter the race. 

My Foreign Office will champion Keir’s 5 missions and Rachel Reeves’ ‘securonomics’ on the world stage. 

Delivering national, economic and climate security through diplomacy.  

Tackling the climate crisis. Creating good jobs. 

When I visited Kyiv, anti-corruption campaigners told me Britain must stop Putin’s cronies laundering dirty money in our capital.   

Dictators’ stolen cash fuels crime on our streets and turns Londoners’ homes into the bitcoins of kleptocrats.   

Labour will turn up the fight against kleptocracy.   

That’s why today I’m announcing a new whistle-blower scheme to reward those who expose stolen assets and sanctions breaches and help to recover misappropriated funds. 

Under the Tories, Britain became the money laundering capital of the world.   

With Labour, Britain will be the anti-corruption capital of the world. 

Foreign policy should be about trade but the Tories have forgotten that too. 

Earlier this year the Conservative Party Press Office attacked me for saying that improving our relationship with the European Union will be a priority. 

Conference, I’m happy to repeat it. 

If you have forgotten that Britain’s trade with Europe is a priority for our economy, you need to wake up.   

If you’ve forgotten Britain’s alliances in Europe are a priority for our security, you need to wake up.  

If you’ve forgotten we need to work with Europe to tackle organised crime, you need to wake up. 

If you’ve forgotten UK universities depend on links with Europe, you need to wake up. 

If you’ve forgotten the French President is our friend not our foe, you need to wake up. 

With Labour there will be no return to the Single Market or the Customs Union.   

But Keir Starmer is committed to improving our relations with the EU.   

Delivering Britain a much better deal. 

And seeking a new security pact to keep our country safe. 

The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens.   

The joy of having Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe among us this week is profound. 

But it’s also a sombre reminder of other British nationals still awaiting justice.   

Labour’s pledge is simple.   

We will implement a new legal right to consular assistance. 

And appoint a special envoy for Britons wrongly detained abroad. 

Conference, in the next election our offer will be based on hope, not fear. 

The hope of ambition matched by a plan. 

The hope of a united team of Ministers working for green prosperity. 

The hope of defeat for Putin’s imperialism and the peace of a secure Europe. 

The hope of leading again on international development. 

The hope of a Britain reconnected. 

For our security. For our prosperity.   

These are the winds of history only a Labour government can sail.   

And delegates, I make this promise to you here today.   

If we win, you will no longer be embarrassed by our leaders. 

Labour’s mission-driven government will make you proud to be British once more.   

And we must win so we can say…no more Tory Little England.   

Great Britain’s got its future back.                                          

We are a country that can dare to hope once again.