By JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR and JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR and GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR
Rachel Reeves has reiterated Reform's immigration plans are 'racist' but stressed voters who support Nigel Farage are not.
In remarks echoing Keir Starmer, the Chancellor said she believed some Reform supporters would be 'horrified' at the prospect of deporting migrants working and living legally in the UK by revoking settlement rules.
Speaking to LBC ahead of her speech at the Labour Party Conference later today, Ms Reeves said: 'I think it is a racist policy. People support the Reform party for all sorts of reasons, but this policy is a racist policy.'
Pressed on how she thought people could back the policy without being racist, she said: 'You can support the Reform party and not be racist. I think there are lots of people who back Reform who will be horrified by the thought that people who have come to this country legally, who are working and contributing, will be deported from this country.'
Later on, the Chancellor is expected to unveil Labour's new plan to tackle youth unemployment as speculation mounts taxes will increase at the next Budget in November.
Tens of thousands of out-of-work young people could be stripped of their benefits if they refuse to take a job, the Chancellor will announce today.
Rachel Reeves will vow to 'abolish' long-term youth unemployment by guaranteeing paid work for those aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning.
Those eligible will be given support to take advantage of available opportunities but those who refuse to take an offer without a good reason could face a sanction - including losing their benefits.
The Government will subsidise the jobs available under the 'Youth Guarantee', meaning the scheme is likely to cost the Treasury. It is thought big retailers will be appealed to for support.
One in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training - known as NEETs.
Ms Reeves is set to outline the plan in her keynote speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool later today.
Rachel Reeves fueled fears over a VAT raid today as she hinted the Budget could see tax rises and spending cuts.
The Chancellor said she had made a 'solemn promise' to stabilise the finances as she dodged on how she plans to fill an estimated £30billion gap in the government's books.
Speculation has been mounting that Ms Reeves could have to break Labour's election manifesto, which pledged no increases to income tax, employee national insurance or VAT.
Touring broadcast studios at party conference in Liverpool this morning ahead of her keynote speech, Ms Reeves repeated the formulation that she 'stands by those commitments' without giving specific guarantees. Some believe the government could expand VAT to areas such as taxi fares, rather than increasing the main rate.
'There are global headwinds at the moment, we can see that the world has changed hugely since the last election,' she told Sky News.
'But those manifesto commitments we made in the manifesto 15 months ago, those manifesto commitments stand.'
Ms Reeves also suggested Andy Burnham 'risks going the way of Liz Truss' as she warned being Chancellor meant making sure 'the numbers add up'.
Asked whether she agreed with the Prime Minister, who last week appeared to liken Mr Burnham's economic agenda to that of the former Tory prime minister, she told LBC:
If he's saying... anybody that says you can just borrow more, I do think that risks going the way of Liz Truss. Already one pound in every 10 the Government spends is on financing the debt that was racked up by the previous Conservative government. There's nothing progressive, nothing Labour about that.
Her remarks come after Mr Burnham gave interviews in which he revealed Labour MPs had encouraged him to mount a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister.
Earlier this morning, Rachel Reeves said people can support and not be racist but added some would likely be 'horrified' by the party's immigration policy relating to migrants working and living legally in the UK.
Asked how that was true for people who support the plan to revoke the right to remain in Britain for some migrants, she told LBC:
I think it is a racist policy. People support the Reform party for all sorts of reasons, but this policy is a racist policy.
Pressed on how she thought people could back the policy without being racist, she said:
You can support the Reform party and not be racist.
Asked again whether she thought people could support the policy and not be racist, she said:
I think there are lots of people who back Reform who will be horrified by the thought that people who have come to this country legally, who are working and contributing, will be deported from this country.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage as Rachel Reeves makes her speech at the Labour Party Conference today.
The Chancellor will be among a slew of Cabinet ministers speaking in Liverpool ahead of Keir Starmer's appearance tomorrow.
Earlier, Ms Reeves reiterated the Prime Minister's view that Reform's immigration plans are 'racist' while stressing those who support Nigel Farage are not.
The Chancellor also hinted the Budget could see tax rises and spending cuts and suggested Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham 'risks going the way of Liz Truss' after he declared Labour MPs wanted him to challenge Starmer.