British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a bold stance on Tuesday, aiming to reclaim the narrative of patriotism from his populist right-wing adversaries. He launched a direct attack on Nigel Farage, leader of Reform U.K., branding him a ‘snake oil merchant’ who harbors disdain for his own nation and manipulates ‘the politics of grievance’ to gain political traction.
Addressing the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool, England, Starmer’s speech was a strategic move to boost his declining approval ratings. He delivered his strongest condemnation yet of Farage, whose anti-immigration party has seen a significant rise in public support. Starmer consistently challenged Farage’s and his allies’ narrative that Britain is ‘broken’.
Starmer asserted that his opponents seek to transform a ‘proud, self-reliant country into a competition of victims.’ In a symbolic gesture, he encouraged thousands of attendees to wave national flags of Britain, which had been distributed prior to his address. This move was particularly noteworthy given the flags’ recent adoption by far-right groups as symbols of their movement. The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause, as Starmer proclaimed, ‘Labour is the patriotic party.’
With critical Scottish, Welsh, and municipal elections looming in just over seven months, Starmer framed the upcoming choice between Labour and Reform as a ‘fork in the road’ – a decision that would ultimately shape the future of British democracy.
He challenged the audience, asking, ‘When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain’s future? He can’t. He doesn’t like Britain.’ Starmer further claimed that the ‘snake oil merchants’ across the political spectrum, both right and left, lack any genuine interest in national renewal, as ‘decline is good for their business.’
Notably, Starmer ventured into the contentious territory of Britain’s departure from the European Union, a subject he typically avoids but one inextricably linked to Farage’s long-standing campaign. The Prime Minister specifically condemned ‘the Brexit lies on the side of that bus,’ referring to the controversial Leave slogan that falsely promised £350 million per week for the NHS if Britain left the EU.
Starmer characterized the struggle against Reform UK as nothing less than a ‘fight for the soul of our country’ – a battle his own allies worry he might not win.
Starmer’s strong words highlight the significant political threat posed by Farage, whose stances on immigration and economic policy bear a striking resemblance to those of former President Trump. Despite once calling mass deportations a ‘political impossibility,’ Farage recently unveiled a controversial plan to deport hundreds of thousands, even those previously granted long-term residency in Britain.
While Starmer isn’t obligated to call a general election until 2029, current polls indicate a challenging landscape. Reform UK, despite having only five members in Parliament, is projected to overwhelmingly defeat Labour if an election were held today.
(Image: Nigel Farage addresses the Reform U.K. party conference. Despite having only five lawmakers in Parliament, his party currently leads in opinion polls.)
However, Farage wasn’t the sole challenge facing Starmer’s leadership as the Labour conference approached.
Rumors had been circulating about a potential leadership challenge from Andy Burnham, the highly charismatic mayor of Manchester. Throughout the three-day conference, some party members openly expressed frustration, questioning Starmer’s leadership capabilities and his ability to articulate a clear political vision for securing another general election victory.
Internal divisions within Labour also emerged concerning the conflict in Gaza, with several lawmakers criticizing Starmer for not adopting a firmer stance against the Israeli government to halt the violence in the embattled region.
Despite the challenges, Labour Party members highlighted their accomplishments since returning to power last year after 14 years out of government. These include reductions in medical waiting lists, significant investments in education, enhanced protections for renters and workers, and initial steps towards re-establishing cooperation with the European Union.
Starmer announced a new educational target: two-thirds of young people should either attend college or pursue a high-quality apprenticeship. This new goal replaces Tony Blair’s 1999 aim of sending 50 percent of young people to university. He drew a personal connection to his father’s blue-collar background, framing the focus on vocational training as a direct appeal to working-class voters.
(Image: A protester waves a Palestinian flag during Rachel Reeves’s speech at the Labour Party conference.)
Starmer also delivered a stern warning to his own party, urging them to embrace fiscal responsibility and cautioned against automatically labeling every voter concerned about border security as an anti-migrant racist.
He stated that ‘controlling migration is a reasonable goal,’ pledging to secure Britain’s borders and halt the ‘vile trade’ of small boats transporting migrants across the English Channel. However, he emphasized that Farage and his ilk had crossed ‘a moral line’ by deliberately sowing ‘fear and discord across our country.’
In response to Starmer’s address, Farage expressed shock, declaring, ‘I now believe he is unfit to be the prime minister.’
Starmer’s supporters concede that many voters are frustrated by the government’s perceived slow progress in delivering the significant transformations promised during the last election. Both in formal speeches and informal discussions at the conference, Labour activists highlighted the sluggish pace of change, a faltering economy, and several policy missteps, such as unsuccessful attempts to reduce home heating subsidies and tighten welfare claims.
These criticisms formed the core of Andy Burnham’s public comments against Starmer in the week leading up to the conference.
Despite his public criticism, which drew backlash from some Labour lawmakers, Burnham downplayed his leadership aspirations in Liverpool. He underscored the considerable hurdles he would face to replace Starmer, noting that he would first need to resign as mayor and then successfully run for a seat in Parliament.
‘I can’t launch a leadership campaign,’ Burnham stated. ‘I’m not in Parliament. So that is the bottom line.’
Nevertheless, during a Q&A session in a crowded bar, Burnham presented a more ambitious agenda than Starmer’s. He advocated for reforms to Britain’s stringent government debt rules to enable greater public investment and expressed his hope that the UK would rejoin the European Union during his lifetime.
(Image: Mayor Andy Burnham of Manchester, a potential rival to Starmer, at a Labour Party conference event.)
Amidst a challenging economic climate, many analysts anticipate the government’s next major test in November, when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to present a budget widely believed to include tax increases.
Despite Labour’s concerning poll numbers, the party’s mood was not entirely disheartened. A sense of unity appeared to emerge behind Starmer, fueled by Burnham’s earlier intervention, the growing threat from Reform UK, and the alarming scale of a recent far-right rally in London led by Tommy Robinson, a notorious anti-immigrant activist with a criminal record. Several government ministers delivered fervent speeches at a packed event on Sunday evening.
Steve Reed, the housing secretary, declared, ‘We are the disinfectant that is going to clean up the pollution of the far right in our politics.’
Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, reminded party members that ‘divided parties don’t win elections,’ emphasizing, ‘We won’t beat Reform if we are arguing among ourselves.’
She further urged them to be more active and vocal in their campaigning efforts. ‘We have got to be out there telling the positive story of what this Labour government is delivering,’ she asserted. ‘If we don’t make that case, nobody else will.’