Andy Burnham cites "a spirit of unity and positivity back to our country" at Labour conference

At the Labour Party conference, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first party-conference address as prime minister to present his premiership as a break from a long period of discord and did not mention the Drumcree parade stand-off in Northern Ireland. Secretary of State Chris Bryant left the gathering to go to Northern Ireland over the dispute and said the government would make additional efforts for peace. The stand-off followed a Parades Commission decision permitting an Orange Order march on the Garvaghy Road, which had been barred since 1998; protesters blocked the parade on Sunday. The issue received heavy coverage in Ireland but less attention in Britain amid other news. Burnham also promised to devolve authority from Whitehall to Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England and to preserve the United Kingdom.