Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing calls from senior party figures to make border security a central theme of his first keynote speech as leader at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool next week.
Harriet Harman, the former deputy leader, has stated that Mr Burnham “absolutely has to” address the issue of immigration during his address. The intervention comes as the government grapples with record numbers of small-boat crossings, with official figures showing 781 migrants arrived in the UK in a single day earlier this week.
The 2026 Labour Party Annual Conference begins on Sunday, 27 September, at the ACC Liverpool and M&S Bank Arena. Mr Burnham, who assumed office as Prime Minister in July 2026, is scheduled to deliver his headline speech on the morning of Tuesday, 29 September.
Historical warnings
Baroness Harman warned the Prime Minister to avoid the precedent set by Ed Miliband a decade ago. Mr Miliband was famously criticised following his 2014 conference speech for failing to mention immigration or the national deficit, omissions that were seen at the time as a significant political misstep.
The recent surge in Channel crossings has shifted the political spotlight. The record-breaking arrivals earlier this week have intensified pressure on the Home Office and Downing Street to provide a clear strategy for border control.
The conference takes place against a backdrop of heightened tensions regarding migration. On Friday, 25 September, activist Danny Tommo was charged with criminal damage following an investigation into an incident involving the slashing of boats.
Conference schedule
The four-day event in Liverpool, running from 27 September to 30 September, will be Mr Burnham’s first major opportunity to outline his government’s long-term legislative agenda to party members. Since taking office in July, the upcoming speech is expected to focus heavily on domestic priorities.
Key speeches from the cabinet and the Prime Minister’s keynote address are expected to be broadcast live. For those attending or following the proceedings, the conference will conclude on Wednesday afternoon following a series of policy debates and fringe events.