Sir Keir Starmer will deliver a keynote speech to union members at a GMB conference this morning.

The Labour leader will address delegates at the GMB Congress at the Brighton Centre, a month on from the party’s election victory in the city.

Labour secured overall control of Brighton and Hove City Council for the first time in 20 years, after gaining seats from both the Green Party and the Conservatives.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus in the run-up to election, Sir Keir said Labour would work to address the cost of living crisis with an “effective tax” on oil and gas companies and introducing a renters’ charter to give more rights to those in the private rental sector.

He said: “People are paying higher and higher prices for less and less good quality accommodation, so we’d build more housing and also provide more protection for renters.”

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Sir Keir’s speech today comes after Labour was criticised by GMB general secretary Gary Smith over the party’s policy to ban new oil and gas extraction licences in the North Sea.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr Smith warned that the plan would create a “cliff edge” that will hit jobs.

He said: “There is a lot of oil and gas in the North Sea and the alternatives facing the country are that we either produce our own oil and gas - take responsibility for our carbon emissions - or we are going to import more oil and gas.

“I think workers in the petrochemical industry are going to be very worried about what Labour are saying and I think it is time for Labour to focus on the right thing rather than what they think is the popular thing.”

The Argus:

Sir Keir has moved to reassure trade union critics, however, climbing that oil and gas would be necessary for “many, many years” to come.

He said: “I think we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity now to seize the jobs of the future.

“Oil and gas will be part of that, because where there is existing licences they will go on to the 2050s, and so oil and gas will be part of our energy mix for many, many years to come, but we need to seize the opportunities for the next generation of jobs.”