The Labour Party conference had a different feel to it this year, with members gathering in Liverpool earlier this week for the party’s first conference in government for 14 years.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer focused much of his general election campaign on doing things differently and leading a government of service. However, that message has maybe not resonated as he’d hoped – with focus instead squarely on Labour’s controversial plan to means test the winter fuel allowance, alongside other recent challenges, including nurses rejecting the government’s latest pay rise offer.

The backdrop of the conference wasn’t exactly the glamour and positivity Labour would’ve hoped for too, with anger amongst the electorate regarding the news surrounding the PM and his Cabinet colleagues accepting freebies.

Some in Labour argue they have accomplished more in the first few weeks of government than the Tories did in the past 14 years.

So what did Labour have to say about the future?

Priority mission: Economic growth

After two months of very minimal economic growth, Chancellor Rachel Reeves sought to assure voters that the country’s finances were in stable, trustworthy hands.

Her conference speech asserted that Labour is back in the service of all communities, holding the Conservatives responsible for the state of the country’s finances.

She promised no return to austerity and outlined an ambitious Autumn Budget that would uphold Labour’s manifesto commitments to not raise income tax, instead targeting tax avoidance and non-dom loopholes as a way to reduce the deficit.

NHS must reform… or we kill it?

Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned party members that the NHS is in deep crisis, and revealed his ten-year plan to save it, reiterating the view of the recently published Darzi report, which said the NHS needs to “reform or die”.

Streeting also discussed the prospect of banning smoking outside pubs and focusing on making the NHS become more preventative in its approach, ensuring it helps sick people get back to work as quickly as possible to further boost economic growth.

Other policy areas

Labour reiterated that early years education will be a top priority for the Government, pledging to open 300 new nurseries by next September.

Alongside this, new school breakfast clubs will be rolled out from April next year, ensuring children have the best possible start to the day.

All eyes will now turn to the Tory party conference. What will their thoughts be on Labour’s first few months in office? Will one of the remaining leadership hopefuls emerge as a clear frontrunner?