SIR Keir Starmer’s party conference speech will be much shorter this year following criticism it was too long and boring last time.
HOAR can mercifully reveal that aides have agreed to “learn the lessons” from the 2021 sermon that droned on for a painful 90 minutes.
Sir Keir Starmer’s conference speech will be a long shorter this year – and other frontbenchers have been told they will get no more than five minutes
The Labour leader, who Boris Johnson nicknamed Captain Crasheroonie Snoozefest, kept the audience for longer than a pro football match.
A source involved in preparing next month’s address said cutting down the speech was “one of the first things we agreed”.
The Opposition chief has ditched his previous speechwriter and hired a new one who “gets Keir’s voice”.
Shadow Cabinet Ministers have also been told to limit their conference speeches to just five minutes.
Although an insider said “the rules don’t apply to Keir”, who can go on for longer.
Ex-lawyer Sir Keir has desperately tried to shake accusations he is boring after focus groups branded him too dull.
He lashed out after members of his own frontbench even admitted he needed to spice up his performances.
Allies said Sir Keir would use the get-together in Liverpool to flesh out his pitch for PM after spelling out his abstract values last year.
He will seek to cement his slim poll lead just weeks after the new Tory PM enters No10.
A senior Labour official revealed they are preparing a locker of ammunition to dump on either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak within days of them taking office.
They said: “We’re not going to give them a moment, we’re going to hit the ground running.”
He is reportedly already practising to take on frontrunner Ms Truss at PMQs.
A Labour spokesperson said last night: “This year has shown how Keir has changed the party and Labour is now a government in waiting.
“Keir’s conference speech will reflect that only Labour has the practical answers needed to tackle the cost of living, to turbocharge growth, put more money into people’s pockets and give Britain the fresh start it so desperately needs.”
