Politics

Experts said European haulage firms have "more flexibility to deploy labour" than post-Brexit Britain.

Sir Keir Starmer had taken the messiah complex of Tony Blair, the facial expressions of a constipated Gordon Brown and the music David Cameron bops to at his Chipping Norton soirés.

The Labour leader said the UK needs a plan to "Make Brexit Work" in his long-awaited conference speech.

Thin on policy but high on emotion, the Labour leader's 90-minute speech outlined his priorities for government.

"Let's be clear, shortages right across the country, shortages of fruit pickers, shortages of builders, shortages in terms of lorry drivers: all of that is down to Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel, Dominic Raab and the promises they made to the British people," David Lammy said.

"Not enough choice already? I wish all the people on the streets, those on UC or other benefits could be so choosy."

He described the "arrogance" of assuming people would uproot themselves only to be told they will be discarded at Christmas as "breathtaking".

"Presumably these rockets will be powered solely by sovereignty and not, ya know, fuel," one person commented.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will address activists in Brighton as he seeks to persuade voters that his party is a government-in-waiting.