There was a standing ovation for Angela Rayner as she wrapped up her opening address at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool this morning.
The party's annual showpiece event kicked off at the city's Arena and Convention Centre and will run until Wednesday, September 28. With Labour currently enjoying the largest poll lead over the Tories of leader Sir Keir Starmer's tenure, the four-day event offers a crucial opportunity for the party to head to Liverpool on an election footing.
And it was a strong start from Angela Rayner who stirred up the crowd with references to Partygate, Barnard Castle and even Tractor Porn. The Deputy Leader opened her speech with her own tribute to the Queen Elizabeth II, saying the late monarch "stood for unity" in the darkest times.
