Starmer defended amid row over gifts

One of the most powerful figures in government defended Keir Starmer yesterday amid a row over gifts from a party donor, insisting the prime minister is a man of integrity who is not just delivering a diet of doom and gloom.

- Pippa Crerar

Pat McFadden spoke out after Starmer faced claims of cronyism and failing to declare donations of clothing to his wife, as well as concern over a downbeat tone during his first weeks in power.

Striking a markedly more optimistic tone, McFadden, who as the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster is the top minister in the Cabinet Office, said there were reasons to be "ambitious and optimistic" about Britain's future. Public services such as the NHS, education and the criminal justice system "can be turned round" despite a difficult economic backdrop, he added.

"I don't think we should allow a difficult fiscal picture to be the beginning and end of how we look at the country," he said in an interview with the Guardian. "There's going to be difficult decisions in the budget, people know that, but the prospects for the country are good."

Labour has revealed the slogan at its conference in Liverpool next week will be "change begins" as it seeks to cast a hopeful light on the months ahead despite warnings of tax rises as well as spending and welfare cuts.

Starmer and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, are expected to use their conference speeches to try to explain to the public why the economic pain is necessary to deliver a brighter, more secure future.

McFadden, who is leading on the government's five missions for improving the country, acknowledged that the public's expectations after Labour won such a huge election victory presented a challenge.