Starmer calls for unity as Reform UK leads in polls ahead of Liverpool conference
Labour faces internal strife after resignations; Reform UK widens lead as conference looms
Keir Starmer urged Labour members to unite against Reform UK as the opposition fights for traction ahead of a pivotal conference in Liverpool. In remarks to The Guardian before the weekend gathering, he framed the moment as a test of the party's resolve, saying: "History will not forgive us if we do not use every ounce of our energy to fight Reform. We have to win this battle."
The push comes as polls show Nigel Farage's Reform UK opening a lead over Labour, with the latest surveys placing Reform roughly 10 percentage points ahead. An exclusive Daily Mail survey conducted ahead of the party conference found that two-thirds of respondents believe Labour has failed to meet expectations since Starmer's landslide year ago. The poll also notes a political climate complicated by the departures of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Britain's ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, heightening questions about Labour's direction.
On policy signals, a separate online poll asked whether digital ID cards would reduce illegal migration; of 8,346 votes, 4% said yes and 96% said no. The result highlights public skepticism about technocratic solutions to migration and blunting some of Labour's calls for stronger controls.
Liverpool's conference, beginning Sunday, will be a test of Starmer's ability to unite a party roiled by recent upheaval and to present a credible plan to voters who have grown wary of the pace of reforms. Labour officials have described the gathering as a chance to reset the party's message and rebuild public trust after a year marked by internal upheaval and controversy.
Observers say the immediate test for Starmer will be party unity and messaging, with the Liverpool conference serving as a proving ground for the leadership's ability to respond to public concerns about cost, migration, and the economy. While Reform UK maintains a polling edge, Labour hopes to reclaim its position by focusing on delivery and accountability as it seeks to persuade voters that the party remains capable of governing effectively.