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18m ago

Starmer Opens Labour Conference, Calls for Unity and Condemns Reform Plan as 'Racist'

A bruising polling backdrop makes the conference a test of his ability to reset the government’s message.

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Overview

  • The prime minister urged Labour to unite against Reform UK, telling the BBC the party faces "the fight of our lives" and branding Reform’s proposal to revoke rights from legally resident migrants "a racist" and "immoral" policy.
  • New modelling reported this weekend puts Reform ahead nationally, including a More in Common MRP estimate that projects a large Reform majority if an election were held now.
  • Ipsos reports only 13% of voters are satisfied with Starmer’s leadership, the lowest approval recorded for any UK prime minister since 1977.
  • Internal pressure persists with speculation around Andy Burnham, as senior ministers line up public attacks on Nigel Farage and Labour readies a more aggressive ground campaign focused on engaging non‑voters.
  • Conference signals include potential welfare shifts discussed by MPs, a pledge to begin work on three new towns before the next election, a £1.5bn loan guarantee for Jaguar Land Rover, and plans from the home secretary to tighten settlement rules and reform migration laws by Christmas; pro‑Palestinian protests in Liverpool led to sit‑ins and arrests outside the venue.