Anthony Albanese has defended UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s struggling leadership, insisting the Labour government has an “absolute resolve” to stand up for democracy and fight far-right forces in Britain.

In a major speech to the UK Labour party conference in Liverpool on Sunday, Albanese argued Labour can resist the challenges being levelled at trust in government and institutions.

As many as 20,000 people are expected at the party’s annual conference, which comes amid growing criticism of Starmer’s leadership, after political missteps and departures in recent weeks, and as Labour lags Nigel Farage’s Reform party by as much as 10 points in opinion polls.

The days leading up to the conference have seen speculation the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, could challenge Starmer for the top job.

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Albanese called Starmer his “mate” and insisted both Australian Labor and UK Labour could meet key challenges driving some voters to consider populist parties.

He said Starmer’s five-year term meant the Labour government had time to address the hardest problems facing the UK.

“The asset every progressive leader in every positive and ambitious government wishes they had more of: time,” he said.

“Because it takes time to turn promises into progress. It takes time for plans to work and be seen to work.

“For inflation to fall, wages to rise, new homes to be finished, new energy connected, new hospitals to open, new investments in education to flow into results.

“It takes time to tackle problems that have been created over decades. It takes time to repay trust by delivering on our commitments, and in doing so build trust for future action.

“It takes time to make change with people and make change work for people.”

The first Australian prime minister to address the conference, Albanese told delegates trust in government and institutions was under serious challenge, and the rise of artificial intelligence was transforming economies around the world.

He insisted leaders should stand up for secure employment and fair wages.

Referencing former Labour leaders Harold Wilson and Clement Attlee, Albanese said government was still capable of solving big problems, such as growing the economy, providing housing and managing civic debate.

“But I what I see here in UK Labour, is the same determination that I know lives in every member of Australian Labor. An absolute resolve to stand together and defend democracy itself.”

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Albanese received a standing ovation. Starmer called him “a real inspiration” to politicians on the left and praised his landslide victory at the 3 May election.

Ahead of the conference, Starmer called for “patriotic national renewal” on the progressive side of politics.

“History will not forgive us if we do not use every ounce of our energy to fight Reform,” he said. “There is an enemy.”

Albanese met King Charles III at Balmoral on Saturday, as the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, criticised his 11-day visit to the US and UK, describing his presence at the UK Labour conference as partisan.

“Albanese is in the UK as the Australian prime minister, not the leader of the Australian Labor party,” Ley said. “He shouldn’t be swanning around on the taxpayer dollar at Labour political conferences hanging out with his leftwing mates.”

Albanese defended the visit, and said he would meet with UK government ministers, including the defence secretary, John Healey.

He said he would discuss trade and investment, including in critical minerals, the Aukus deal and talk up his government’s social media ban for children under 16.

Albanese will visit the United Arab Emirates en route home to Australia.