UK Labour Leader Starmer Confronts Farage in Defining Political Battle

At the 2025 Labour conference in Liverpool, Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a markedly aggressive stance against Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party, accusing them of inciting racism and division while pledging renewal and decency under Labour. Starmer criticized Farage for crossing a "moral line" with the "thuggery" displayed by some on the hard right and condemned racist violence, emphasizing that while controlling migration is reasonable, violence is not legitimate. This shift in tone reflects Labour's recognition of Reform UK as a significant threat, given their strong polling and impact on voter dynamics. Internally, Starmer faced pressure from both the left, calling for a reset of party direction, and the right, demanding a firm response to Reform UK, which his speech sought to address by unifying his party and attempting to reclaim patriotic symbols like the Union Jack from anti-migrant protests. The conflict has sparked a heated political battle, with Reform UK responding sharply to Starmer's accusations, warning that such comments could incite violence against their supporters. Overall, Starmer's conference performance aimed to consolidate his leadership and counter the rising influence of Reform UK ahead of upcoming local and general elections.