The Labour Party conference was opened today with a tribute to the Queen followed by the national anthem.
An emotional Sir Keir Starmer opened his party's conference in Liverpool with a minute's silence for the late monarch, followed by a rendition of God Save the King. Both were well-observed in the hall, with no booing despite criticism of the decision to honour the monarchy at the event.
A leaflet had previously been handed out by Labour Left Internationalists, which said: "As democratic, secular, internationalist socialists, we certainly won't be, and we suspect a lot of other delegates won't either."
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It added: "The degree of the leadership's doubling down on monarchism is remarkable and almost comic."
Many in the hall were seen singing the anthem and applause was heard once it concluded. Paying tribute to the Queen, Sir Keir told party members it 'still feels impossible to imagine a Britain without her'.
"Because our Queen's devotion to Britain was underpinned by one crucial understanding - she knew that the country she came to symbolise is bigger than any one individual or institution", Sir Kier said.
He added: "Conference, as we enter a new era, let's commit to honouring the late Queen's memory. Let's turn up our collar up and face the storm, keep alive the spirit of public service she embodied and let it drive us towards a better future.
"For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II stood as head of our country, but, in spirit, she stood amongst us."
On Saturday, dozens of people gathered to hear the case for a British republic at a packed fringe event described as the 'naughtiest' at the Labour conference. Guests at the meeting, attended by Labour MP Richard Burgon, were warned against a future with a 'white, privileged male' as head of state, as the hosts said power by 'accident of birth' is 'incompatible' with the party's democratic values.
The discussion centred on the future of the monarchy in the wake of the Queen's death. The annual Labour Party conference is being held in Liverpool from today, September 25 until Wednesday, September 28 at the city's Arena and Convention Centre.
Kickstarting the event is a speech by Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, followed by a meeting to discuss party reports, before a discussion on 'winning the General Election' takes place from 1.30pm.
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