Andy Burnham used his Labour conference speech in Liverpool to set out a personal, emotionally charged case for changing the country’s direction. The Guardian sketch describes him as unusually candid and willing to risk his political standing, presenting hope as dependent on honesty and appealing for voters to take a different path.

Burnham called for people to work together and avoided naming political rivals, while criticising the prospect of a divisive party winning with less than 30% of the vote. The speech focused on a broad vision rather than detailed figures; the sketch says he framed most proposed changes as choices for the next election and did not repudiate Labour’s election manifesto. It also reports repeated standing ovations from the audience.