Starmer frames Reform as the enemy ahead of Labour conference, pledges fight for the nation

Keir Starmer framed Reform UK as the principal national threat ahead of Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, telling supporters that Labour must win a decisive battle to protect the country’s future. He described Reform as an 'enemy' and a project he said is detrimental to the nation, arguing that history will judge Labour harshly if it fails to mobilize. The conference, Starmer said, is an opportunity to reclaim patriotism from Reform and to present a Labour programme that unites the country rather than divides it.

Starmer stressed that he would confront Reform, not imitate it, and he asserted he would lead Labour to the next election while urging party members to set aside talk of leadership speculation. His remarks come as Labour tries to steady a party still grappling with internal tensions and reputational strains. He indicated that some MPs have floated leadership questions, a signal many observers took as a dig at Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, who has publicly suggested he could be a challenger. He contrasted Reform’s positioning with a pragmatic, centrist path and urged Labour to offer a united, credible alternative that could win broad support rather than theatrics or infighting.

The run-up to Labour’s conference has been overshadowed by a string of upheavals that have rattled the party, including the resignations of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, from their posts. Sir Keir’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, faces controversy over claims he hid £730,000 in donations while running the Labour Together think-tank, despite being told he had a legal duty to declare them. The disclosures come as Labour tries to present a disciplined, unified front ahead of the gathering in Liverpool and as it navigates a period of intense scrutiny over political donors and internal ethics questions.

Meanwhile, an exclusive Daily Mail poll conducted in the run-up to the conference paints a stark picture of the electoral landscape. It shows Reform UK leading with 29% support, ahead of Labour on 20%, the Conservatives on 15%, the Liberal Democrats on 9%, and the Greens on 8%. Nigel Farage’s party also shows a modest net favorable rating of plus five (42% favorable, 37% unfavorable), while Starmer trails with a net rating of minus 24 (27% favorable, 51% unfavorable). The numbers underscore Reform as Labour’s principal electoral threat as the party attempts to reset its message with voters who express waning confidence in Westminster politics.

The poll highlights broad voter disillusionment, particularly among working-class voters, who reported that Labour had not lived up to its promises. Cost-of-living pressures and immigration were cited as top priorities by respondents. Inflation remains higher than at the time of Labour’s 2024 electoral victory, and voters said the economy had deteriorated since Rachel Reeves took charge at the Treasury. Public faith in Labour’s ability to address the illegal immigration crisis remained low, even as the government has hardened its rhetoric on small boats crossing the Channel. Just 28% of respondents believed Labour would succeed in stopping small boats, compared with 64% who said they would fail. There was also notable support for reviving the Rwanda deportation scheme—by a margin of 46% to 34%—even though Labour had scrapped the policy during Starmer’s first week in office.

Voter attitudes toward crime and prison policy were mixed. About 47% believed proposals to reduce prison overcrowding would increase crime, while only 17% supported cutting jail terms to reduce overcrowding and 51% opposed such reductions. The survey results reinforce the perception that Reform is the main electoral threat to Labour and illustrate the challenge Starmer faces in persuading voters that Labour can deliver on cost-of-living relief, immigration control, and crime reduction.

Taken together, the developments set the stage for Labour’s conference as Starmer seeks to present a coherent, centrist alternative capable of uniting the party and appealing to a broad swath of voters. The party’s leadership contends with a fragile public mood that places a premium on stability, economic relief, and clear policy direction, even as internal questions about leadership and ethics continue to surface in the aftermath of recent resignations and controversy.