Already under pressure over party finances, and slipping in the polls, the Reform leader needed to use the gathering to get back on the front foot. While Reform activists at the conference remain unswayed, it will further damage Farage and his party's reputation in the wider country.

She is also likely to approve the Rosebank mega-oilfield in the coming months, though officials are looking for ways to make sure the proceeds from that project go towards clean energy projects, as happens in Norway.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, will give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen as soon as next week, with formal approval following as soon as a week after.

BREAKING: John Healey is Andy Burnham's surprise pick as chancellor, with former defence secretary emerging as compromise candidate after Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood were both tipped for the role.

Andy Burnham's first foreign leader call since he entered office was to Donald Trump, No 10 confirms. According to @katyballs.bsky.social the G20 summit - which UK is hosting next year - will be held in Manchester. This comes after US president said Burnham was mayor of "some town".

MORE: Burnham also suggests he could cut income tax for lower earners in the budget. This could involve cutting tax-free personal allowance, which has been frozen for the last five years. But new PM refuses to rule out bringing back 50p top rate of tax saying it was "premature".

“... the existing fiscal rules and use obviously any flexibility within them. But we will stick to the existing rules,” he says. “So none of this is about taking risks with the economy. I’ve never done that in any role that I’ve had. I’ve always taken a very prudent approach.”

ALSO: Burnham says he'd look at “any flexibility” within government’s existing fiscal rules to help borrow billions more to invest in infrastructure – but insists that he would take a “very prudent” approach to the economy. “I’ve said we’ll stick to the fiscal rules and by that I mean...

“We're looking at measures that could make a difference this year We just want to do some things that people will feel and feel quite quickly. “It won’t solve everything, it won’t take all of the pressure off, but it just shows the direction of travel and that we’re serious about helping them out.”

BREAKING: Andy Burnham tells reporters he's looking at cutting energy bills and bus fares as part of cost-of-living package which could eventually include more radical plans such as freezing private sector rents.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Andy Burnham is now prime minister after being invited to form a government by the King at Buckingham Palace.

"Since then, it's been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as PM. I'm confident Britain is now stronger & fairer than two years ago "I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve. I go with good grace. I go with a smile. I go proud of everything we've achieved."

NEW: Keir Starmer gives resignation speech in Downing Street sunshine - watched by wife Vic and closest allies and aides. "My work is done. In 6.5 years, I took our party from. historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won a landslide election victory in 2024...

EXCL: Hollie Ridley, the general secretary of the Labour Party, has just told staff that she is standing down after this autumn’s conference. Her departure clears the way for Labour’s ruling NEC to pick a new general secretary for Andy Burnham’s time as leader and prime minister.