Kristina Roberts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a strong attack on Reform UK, warning the party’s proposals could “tear the country apart” as Labour’s annual conference begins in Liverpool.
Speaking on Saturday as he arrived at the event, Sir Keir condemned Reform’s plan to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for legal migrants, calling it “one of the most shocking things” Nigel Farage’s party has ever put forward.
The Labour leader said the conference would showcase Labour’s vision for “patriotic national renewal” as an alternative to what he described as Reform’s “toxic divide and decline.”
However, Sir Keir faces mounting internal pressure as recent opinion polls suggest Labour has slipped behind Reform UK. This has sparked speculation that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could challenge his leadership.
Nigel Farage hit back, accusing Sir Keir of desperation. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said the prime minister’s recent comments labeling Reform as an “enemy” were “bordering on incitement.”
Reform’s Controversial Immigration Plan
Last week, Reform UK unveiled plans to replace ILR with a visa system requiring migrants to reapply every five years, even those who have lived and worked in Britain for decades.
Applicants would need to meet stricter conditions, such as higher salary thresholds and improved English language proficiency.
ILR currently offers a pathway to British citizenship and access to benefits. Removing it would impact hundreds of thousands of migrants.
A new YouGov poll published on Saturday shows public opinion is split:
- 58% oppose removing ILR from those who already hold it.
- 44% support ending ILR as a future policy, while 43% are against it.
Sir Keir argued that Reform’s plan was divisive and harmful to communities.
“These are people who have been here a long time, working in hospitals, schools, running businesses — our neighbours,” he said during a visit to the Liverpool Echo office.
“Reform wants to deport them in certain circumstances. Their policies would rip this country apart.”
Reform UK, however, maintains that both Labour and the Conservatives have “betrayed the British people.”
Other Key Issues on the Agenda
While visiting the Liverpool Echo, Sir Keir also:
- Ruled out the legalisation of cannabis.
- Defended his proposal to lower the voting age to 16, noting that the policy is already in place in Scotland and Wales.
Ahead of the conference, pressure is mounting on Labour to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which critics say fuels child poverty. Several Liverpool MPs signed a letter urging Sir Keir to act.
In a notable move, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and MP Apsana Begum had the party whip restored after being suspended for opposing the cap.
McDonnell told the BBC:
“If this signals the government is going to scrap the two-child limit, I’m really pleased.”
Labour’s Policy Plans Under the Spotlight
Sir Keir’s proposed digital ID system, announced on Friday, is expected to face intense scrutiny during the conference.
Senior Labour officials are also preparing to unveil detailed plans for a new wave of “New Towns” as part of the party’s strategy to boost housing and infrastructure.
As the conference gets underway, all eyes will be on how Sir Keir balances defending his leadership with setting out a clear vision — while facing an emboldened Reform UK determined to disrupt the political landscape.
