The event began on Sunday morning (22 September) still mired in a row over gifts to senior MPs and questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff. Ms Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said she understood why people were “frustrated” and “angry” that figures including Sir Keir had received thousands of pounds in gifts.

Unison and GMB understood to be likely to back motion to reverse policy. No 10 is braced for a potential defeat on a Labour conference vote to condemn cuts to the winter fuel allowance, as major trade unions lined up to back the motion to reverse Rachel Reeves’s decision.