Keir Starmer has firmed up plans to make Labour the party of builders in his speech to the conference. Promising a new generation of new towns, and more building on low-quality green belt land that he dubbed “grey belt”, Starmer said he was determined to “fight the blockers who hold a veto over British aspiration” in housing. In a briefing on the speech, the Labour party said the plan consisted of five elements. It said they were: A housing recovery plan; a blitz of planning reform to quickly boost housebuilding to buy and rent and deliver the biggest boost to affordable housing in a generation, enhancing local voice on ‘how’ housing is built with communities confident plans will be delivered The next generation of ‘new towns’; new communities with beautiful homes, green spaces, reliable transport links and bustling high streets Unleashing mayors; a package of devolution to mayors, with stronger powers over planning and control over housing investment ‘Planning passport’ for urban brownfield development; with a fast track approval and delivery of high-density housing on urban brownfield sites First dibs for first-time buyers; supporting younger people the first chance at homes in new housing developments with a government-backed mortgage guarantee scheme. Starmer has made a direct and personal appeal for Conservative voters to back him at the general election. He said: If you are a Conservative voter who despairs of this, if you look in horror at the descent of your party into the murky waters of populism and conspiracy, with no argument for economic change. If you feel our country needs a party that conserves. That fights for our union. Our environment. The rule of law. Family life. The careful bond between this generation and the next. Then let me tell you: Britain already has one. And you can join it. It’s this Labour party. Starmer’s speech to his party’s conference was disrupted by a lone pro-PR protester who sprinkled the Labour leader with glitter before being hauled off stage.