Starmer brands Reform UK the 'enemy' as Labour heads to conference and trails in polls

LONDON — Keir Starmer warned that Labour must win a “fight for the soul of the nation” against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as the party heads into its annual conference in Liverpool, where polling shows Reform ten points ahead.

In remarks drawn from an interview with The Guardian, Starmer said history would not forgive Labour if it fails to mobilize “every ounce of energy” to counter Reform. He described Reform as an enemy and a project detrimental to the country, insisting the conference should be used to reclaim patriotism from Reform and declaring he would confront Reform rather than imitate it. The remarks come amid internal party tensions over direction on issues such as immigration and a sense among some MPs that Downing Street has lurched to the right on policy. Starmer also said he would lead Labour into the next election and urged colleagues to ignore questions about his grip on power, a nod to ongoing speculation about leadership challenges within the party. His comments were widely interpreted as a veiled rebuke to Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor who has said mutinous MPs want him to challenge Starmer for the leadership, and they followed criticisms that Labour has drifted toward the right on immigration.

Alongside the Reform critique, Starmer also aimed at his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, arguing that Corbyn’s left-leaning politics parallels Reform’s rightward shift in terms of national debates. The run-up to Labour’s conference has been complicated by a string of scandals, including the departures of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson. Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, has faced controversy over allegations that he did not declare £730,000 in donations related to the Labour Together think tank, despite being warned of a legal duty to disclose them.

The remarks follow an exclusive Daily Mail poll that underscores a fractured public mood one year into Starmer’s term. The survey shows Reform UK leading on 29% support, with Labour at 20%, the Conservatives at 15%, Liberal Democrats at 9%, and Greens at 8%. It also highlights a sharp contrast between Farage’s personal moment and Starmer’s political standing: Farage enjoys a net favorable rating of plus five (42% favorable, 37% unfavorable), while Starmer's net rating sits at minus 24 (27% favorable, 51% unfavorable).

Voters identified cost of living and immigration as the top issues, with inflation running higher than at the last election and many respondents saying the economy under Labour has worsened since Rachel Reeves took charge of the Treasury. Only a minority believe Labour will succeed in stopping small boats crossing the Channel, and a majority support the idea of restoring the Rwanda deportation scheme—a policy Starmer scrapped early in his tenure. Public support for reducing prison sentences to ease overcrowding is also low, and concerns about crime appear to accompany skepticism about Labour’s ability to deliver on a tough immigration agenda. The poll further suggests disillusionment is strongest among working-class voters, where only about 1% say Labour has exceeded expectations, and a substantial portion report feeling worse off amid the cost-of-living pressure.

The polling paints Reform as the party most likely to capitalize on public dissatisfaction, a dynamic Labour must address as it prepares to defend its mandate at the conference. While Starmer seeks to portray the contest as a battle over national identity and the nation’s trajectory, the public’s confidence in Labour’s ability to manage immigration policy, fix the economy, and “clean up politics” remains tepid. As the conference opens, party officials will be looking for a message that can unite a broad coalition of voters while signaling a clear plan to address the cost of living, border security, and public safety.