Starmer's First Conference Speech, PM Addresses Nation On New COVID-19 Rules

Several notable political events taking place in the UK today.

• At 0900BST (0400ET, 1000CET) Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer will deliver his maiden leader's speech at the Labour Party conference, which is being held virtually. The speech is intended to distance Starmer's leadership from that of his predecessor, left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, in so far as talking up patriotism within the Labour party in an overt attempt to win back support from socially conservative former Labour voters in the north of England. The starkness of the attempt to get away from the Corbyn years is clear in lines such as: "I ask you: take another look at Labour. We're under new leadership. We love this country as you do."
• At 1130BST (0630ET, 1230CET) Justice Secretary Robert Buckland faces Justice questions in the Commons. He will face intense questioning on the UK Internal Market bill, which threatens that the UK could override the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and in doing so break international law. Buckland, in his role of Lord Chancellor, has faced major criticism for not resigning office. Given that Lord Chancellor is seen as responsible for the running of courts in the UK, there is anger that Buckland would be willing to support a gov't that risks breaching international law.
• The UKIM faces its final day in the committee stage today before going onto the report stage and third reading. Yesterday former PM Theresa May (who still sits as a backbench Conservative MP) outlined her reasons why she is set to vote against the bill.
• At 1230BST (0730ET, 1330CET) PM Boris Johnson will deliver a statement to the Commons on new COVID-19 restrictions in England. These centre on a curfew on hospitality venues that will be forced to close at 10pm from Thursday. There remain objections on both sides to the measures, from those arguing the new restrictions to not go far enough in suppressing the spike in new cases, while others say the damage that they will cause to the economy is too great. Johnson will also appear in a televised address to the nation at 2000BST (1500ET, 2100CET) to outline the new restrictions.