Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is fighting for a Labour conference revival. He insists his government can still “pull this round”. This statement comes before his party’s annual conference. Furthermore, Labour faces difficult opinion polls. The party currently trails behind Reform UK. Additionally, there is mounting internal speculation. Specifically, people wonder if Mayor Andy Burnham will launch a leadership challenge.
Therefore, Sir Keir told the Times it is time for action. He said they must “roll up our sleeves and get on with it”. Also, he renewed his strong attacks on Nigel Farage. He claimed Farage’s party would “tear this country apart”. The Prime Minister sees this week as critical. He wants to present an alternative to “toxic divide and decline”. This effort is central to the needed Labour conference revival.
Moreover, reform leader Nigel Farage quickly hit back. He said Sir Keir’s language “smacks of total desperation”. He also called the word “enemy” borderline inciteful. Sir Keir continued his criticisms in another interview. He described Farage as “grubby” and “unpatriotic”. He accused him of talking Britain down abroad.
Comparisons with Reform will likely dominate the conference. Sir Keir aims to position Labour as the patriotic alternative. Recently, Reform announced a tough new immigration policy. They plan to replace Indefinite Leave to Remain with temporary visas. This would affect hundreds of thousands of current migrants.
Sir Keir strongly condemned this proposal. He said these people are neighbors contributing to society. Therefore, he argued the policy shows how divisive Reform truly is. He believes their politics will tear the nation apart. Meanwhile, his own Home Secretary suggested a different approach. Shabana Mahmood said she is looking at tightening ILR rules. She wants to link settlement to wider community contribution.
During a visit in Liverpool, Sir Keir also addressed other policies. He firmly stated his government will not legalise cannabis. He also defended plans to lower the voting age to sixteen. Moreover, he noted this already happens in Scotland and Wales. He said the sky did not fall in there.
Ahead of the conference, internal party pressures are emerging. Backbench MPs and unions are renewing their calls. They demand an end to the two-child benefit cap. Several Liverpool MPs wrote a letter to the Prime Minister. They called the cap a significant driver of child poverty. In a related move, two MPs had their whip restored. They were previously banned for voting against the government on this issue.
The Prime Minister’s new digital ID plan will also face scrutiny. Senior Labour figures are expected to announce more details. They will set out plans for a fresh tranche of “New Towns”. All these elements combine to create a pivotal moment. The party desperately needs a successful Labour conference revival to reset its agenda and unite against challengers.
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