By David Powell

Copyright dailypost

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour’s conference was a chance to show an alternative to the “toxic divide and decline” offered by Reform UK, as he ruled out legalising cannabis.

Arriving at the conference centre in Liverpool with his wife Lady Victoria, he said it was a “really important conference”. It was a “really big opportunity to make our case to the country, make it absolutely clear that patriotic national renewal is the way forward, not the toxic divide and decline that we get with Reform”.

Later Sir Keir said Reform UK’s policies will tear the UK apart. Speaking to a group of students at the Liverpool Echo’s offices ahead of the conference, Sir Keir described Reform’s plans to remove indefinite leave to remain for legal migrants as “one of the most shocking things” the opposition party had come out with. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now – here’s how to sign up

He said: “These are people who’ve been in our country a long time, contributing to our society, maybe working in – I don’t know – hospitals, schools, running businesses, our neighbours, and Reform says it wants to deport them in certain circumstances.

“I think it is a real sign of just how divisive they are and that their politics and their policies will tear this country apart.

“It is what it is to be British that we are able to be reasonable, pragmatic, tolerant, live and let live. To tear away at that will destroy our country. I feel very, very strongly about this.

“I’m sorry that you’re having to grow up in a world where this politics has found a voice and almost a licence as well.”

On another policy, Sir Keir defended his plans to give 16 and 17-year-olds the vote as they have in Wales. “Lots of people say ‘Oh, it would be terrible if you give 16-year-olds the vote’.

“It won’t: It already happens in Scotland, already happens in Wales, and the sky didn’t fall in.”

The PM asked for the opinion of the audience on the plans, with one teenager telling him they did not agree with giving 16 and 17-year-olds the vote.

Sir Keir replied: “I disagree with you. I’ve just met so many 16, 17-year-olds who are really switched on, really engaged and want to have a say over their future.

“Politics is about millions of lives across the country. It is very much about the lives of young people, because the decisions that we make today are going to affect the world in which you’re going to be adults in, you’re going to work in, and all the rest of it. So, we’ll have to disagree on this one.”

Sir Keir also gave students his view about drugs. The Government will not be legalising cannabis, he said.

Asked if he would consider legalising it, the Prime Minister told an audience of students at the Liverpool Echo’s offices: “No, I’m afraid not. What answer did you want me to give?”

Sir Keir then asked the students to put their hands up if they would support legalising cannabis. He added: “There’s probably a few hands that would have gone up if the cameras weren’t here.

“But, no, we’re not going down that route.” However critics claim things could change for Welsh Labour in Wales with some seeing a sea shift in politics.