Old Trafford, trains and football: What we learned today at Labour conference

Major speeches, announcements and protests have taken place on the second day of the Labour Party conference.

The annual event in Liverpool, which started on Sunday (September 22), is the first since the party has taken power. Making her first party conference speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves ruled out a return to austerity under Labour.

But transport secretary Louise Haigh revealed that government funding for a new train line between Manchester and Liverpool is not guaranteed. It came after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham revealed that no public money has been committed towards Manchester United's plans to revamp its Old Trafford home for the time being.

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Speaking at the same event, former United star Gary Neville suggested that the club should consider building a stadium for the women's team as part of its plans to redevelop the site of the current stadium. Earlier in the day, he defended Keir Starmer for accepting more than £35,000 in free football tickets since 2019.

The Salford City owner also hit out at the Premier League over its position on the government's plans to set up a football regulator. The organisation has dismissed claims it is acting like a 'bully' over the move.

It followed confirmation from Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who is the culture, media and sport secretary that the Football Governance Bill could be introduced to Parliament within weeks. However, she said that the legislation which would allow for the new regulator to be created will not guarantee that clubs don't go under as Bury FC did.

Meanwhile, pensioners from Manchester were among those who staged a protest outside the conference, criticising the government’s controversial