Starmer labels Reform 'the enemy' as Labour fights for the soul of the nation ahead of conference

Keir Starmer framed Reform UK as 'the enemy' and urged Labour to wage a 'fight for the soul of the nation' ahead of the party's annual conference in Liverpool, as new polling shows Reform on 29% and Labour on 20%. The opposition leader pitched the coming gathering as a moment to confront a rising rival and reset the party's political narrative on patriotism and national purpose.

Speaking to The Guardian ahead of the conference, Starmer said history will not forgive Labour if it does not marshal 'every ounce of our energy' to fight Reform, calling them 'an enemy' and 'a project detrimental to our country' that sits 'right there in plain sight in front of us.' He stressed that the conference is an opportunity for Labour to reclaim patriotism from Reform and said he would 'confront Reform, not ape Reform' as he seeks to close the gap and lead Labour into the next election. The remarks came amid ongoing debate inside the party over immigration and other flagship issues, with some critics warning against swerving to the right.

The Labour leader is also expected to push for unity within the party and to respond to internal pressure, including questions about leadership plans voiced by some MPs and supporters. Observers have read the remarks as a signal to those who have urged a broader leadership challenge from within Labour, including a recent suggestion that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, could be a potential rival. Starmer also drew a contrast with his predecessor, saying Farage's politics sit on the right while Corbyn's were on the left, a framing meant to sharpen the contrast between the two-era opposition figures as the party seeks to redefine its identity ahead of the election.

The run-up to Labour's conference has been overshadowed by a string of political scandals that have reverberated through the leadership circle. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, both departed from their posts in the past year, while Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, faced questions over alleged undisclosed donations tied to the Labour Together think-tank, with reports that he had a legal duty to declare them. The party has sought to present the conference as a turning point, but the controversy around its senior aides continues to complicate the message.

A separate Daily Mail exclusive survey conducted as Labour readies its Liverpool gathering paints a harsh picture of public sentiment one year after Starmer’s landslide victory. Some two-thirds of respondents said Labour had failed to meet expectations, with disillusionment strongest among working-class voters. In the poll, Reform UK led the field on 29%, followed by Labour at 20%, the Conservatives at 15%, the Liberal Democrats at 9% and the Greens at 8%. Farage’s personal ratings stood at 42% favorable and 37% unfavorable, a net plus-five, while Starmer trailed with a net minus-24 (27% favorable, 51% unfavorable).

Voters identified cost of living and immigration as top priorities. Inflation has climbed since the election, leaving many households feeling worse off, and respondents believed the economy had worsened since Rachel Reeves took charge of the Treasury. The survey found limited faith in Labour’s ability to address illegal immigration, with just 28% believing Labour would stop small boats crossing the Channel and 64% predicting they would fail. Support for the Rwanda deportation scheme, which Labour had scrapped early in Starmer’s tenure, tilted 46% to 34% in favor of bringing it back.

On crime and prison policy, public opinion was cautious about plans to ease overcrowding: 47% believed proposed measures would raise crime levels, while only 9% expected a decline. Just 17% supported reducing jail sentences to address overcrowding, and 51% opposed. The poll underscores Reform UK as Labour’s main electoral threat and highlights a stark contrast in public perception of the two leaders: Farage’s net-positive rating versus Starmer’s enduring negative balance.

As Labour prepares for its Liverpool conference, party officials say the event will be about unifying the ranks, defending the record on domestic priorities, and presenting a credible plan to tackle cost of living, immigration, and public safety. The period ahead will test Starmer’s ability to translate a bruising parliament slate and polling challenges into a cohesive campaign message that can regain lost ground before the next general election.