Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Reform UK’s legal migration policies as racist, as he rallies Labour MPs at the start of party’s annual conference in Liverpool.
The prime minister said Nigel Farage’s party wanted to “tear our country apart”, as he called Reform UK’s plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain "racist" and "immoral".
"It is one thing to say we're going to remove illegal migrants,” he said. “It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them. They are our neighbours.”
But as the party conference begins on Sunday morning, Sir Keir is still facing questions from within Labour over his leadership.
Labour chairwoman Anna Turley acknowledged it had been “quite a challenging couple of weeks” for the party.
The prime minister has said that that Labour had to “unite and fight” against the Reform threat, amid speculation that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham could mount a leadership challenge.
However, Starmer dismissed the idea that he is in political trouble, telling the BBC's Sunday with Laura Keunssberg: "In politics, there always can be comments about leaders and leadership, particularly at times like conference".
Key Points
- Starmer dismisses claims of political turbulence
- Starmer says Farage's migration plan is 'racist' and 'immoral'
- What is happening at the Labour conference today?
- Labour members arrive in Liverpool for conference
- Starmer seeks to counter Reform UK as conference begins
- Starmer insists Labour can recover from poll slump as conference begins
Housing secretary accuses Conservatives of 'blocking the homes that people need'
13:13
,
Holly Bancroft
The Conservatives "crushed the dreams of families" who struggled to access housing, Steve Reed has claimed.
The housing secretary told the Labour conference: "The Tories spent 14 years blocking the homes that people need.
"They didn't just hold back the economy, they crushed the dreams of families who couldn't afford a decent home.
"Well conference, no more. We will fight the Tory blockers and give working people the key to a decent home they can afford to live in."
Referring to plans for a tranche of new towns in at least 12 locations, Mr Reed later added: "I will do whatever it takes to get Britain building again, and we won't just build homes, we'll build communities.
"And not just communities but entire towns."
Unite general secretary warns Budget is 'critical point' for whether members choose to abandon Labour
13:01
,
Holly Bancroft
The upcoming Budget is a "critical point" for whether Unite members choose to disaffiliate from Labour, the union's leader has said.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham warned last month that workers could turn their backs on the party if they do not change course.
As Labour's party conference began in Liverpool, she said it was getting "harder and harder to justify" affiliation with Labour and that the "time is getting close" to make a choice.
"My members are scratching their heads and they're asking, 'how does a Labour Government allow two oil refineries to shut with absolutely no plan? How have we got a net zero plan that has workers at the end of the queue? Where is the plan for workers? Where is the transition? Where is the money?'," she told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News.
"And so for my members, whether it's public sector workers all the way through to defence, are asking 'What is happening here?'
"Now when that question cannot be answered, when we're effectively saying 'look, actually we cannot answer why we're still affiliated', then absolutely I think our members will choose to disaffiliate, and that time is getting close. "
Ms Graham was asked how long Sir Keir Starmer has before Unite makes that decision.
"The Budget is an absolutely critical point of us knowing whether direction is going to change," she said.
She called for a loosening of the fiscal rules Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to stick to.
"Those fiscal rules need to be changed. Other countries are doing it. We should stop dancing around our handbag and do that.”
Housing secretary pledges new towns with 'homes fit for families'
12:50
,
Holly Bancroft
New housing secretary Steve Reed has begun his speech to Labour conference by paying tribute to Angela Rayner, saying she is a “real working class hero”.
“The Tories spent 14 years blocking the homes that people need.. they crushed the dreams of families who couldn’t afford a decent home,” he said.
He vowed to “fight the Tory blockers”. “We will once again build new towns with homes fit for families,” he pledged.
Mr Reed said he would “restore the dream of home ownership to thousands of families right across our country”. He announced that Labour would go ahead with work in at least 12 locations.
Labour's Ellie Reeves accuses Reform of 'importing failed Tories'
12:45
,
Holly Bancroft
Reform UK are "importing failed Tories" to write their policies, Ellie Reeves told the Labour Party conference.
The former party chairwoman said: "Until recently, their party was literally owned by one individual: Nigel Farage, a man who, when asked about his policies, said, and I quote 'if you ask me how you're going to do this, I can't really give you an answer'.
"So how do they solve that problem? By importing failed Tories to help them write their policies.
"If the answer is Nadine Dorries, then you're asking the wrong question."
Digital ID will tackle illegal working and deter migrants, Starmer insists
12:32
,
Holly Bancroft
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted digital IDs will help stop people working illegally and deter migrants from coming to the UK.
BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg quizzed the prime minister on Sunday morning, saying that those who were prepared to hire people illegally will not ask for ID. Sir Keir responded: “We must be really clear. You must have ID, mandatory digital ID, in order to work, because we have to stop illegal working.
“If you look at any of the raids – we’ve massively increased the number of raids on working premises – it is absolutely clear that people are working illegally.”
Read more here:
You’ll Never Walk Alone sung on party conference stage
12:12
,
Athena Stavrou
Labour Party activists joined the Liverpool Show Choir in singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, to mark the tabling of a Hillsborough Law.
Attendees, including the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy David Lammy, stood as they sang the song from the musical Carousel, which has been adopted by Liverpool FC fans as their anthem.
Three men, two of whom wore Liverpool FC ties, held up a red and ochre scarf as they belted out the lyrics.
Ellie Reeves said from the stage she could not “ever remember a moment quite like that” at her party’s conference in the past.
The song came after Charlotte Hennessy, whose father James, known as Jimmy, died in the 1989 football stadium tragedy, spoke on stage.
“Our input hasn’t ended just because it started its journey through Parliament,” she said.
“We will be watching, we will be listening, and we will continue to follow its progress until it is passed in its entirety.”
Pictured: Starmer delivers speech at opening of conference
11:55
,
Athena Stavrou
Starmer gives opening conference speech
11:41
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer said achieving a Hillsborough Law was an “unacceptably long and hard fight for the campaigners, for the families and victims”.
In his first speech at the Labour Party conference, the prime minister said: “For the past few years, we – as a party – I – as an individual – have vowed to do what we can to bring a measure of justice to the families affected by this.
“And I say a measure of justice because nothing can ever replace the loss.”
He added: “I am delighted to say that this year we do not have to make any more vows – we have a law, the Hillsborough Law.
“A law which shows that this Government is on the side of justice, that we will do the hard yards for working people, and that we’re building a country which sees and respects everyone.
“It’s an incredibly important moment for the 97, for Liverpool, but most of all, for the whole country. And conference, we must recognise that it was an unacceptably long and hard fight for the campaigners, for the families and victims of Hillsborough to get us to this point.
“And so it’s not the Government that should be thanked, it’s not me that should be thanked. It’s the families and campaigners, who after such unimaginable loss, had almost every obstacle put in their path to get to justice.”
Reform responds to Starmer's racism allegations
11:32
,
Athena Stavrou
Reform UK has responded after Sir Keir Starmer accused the party of promoting a “racist” policy on immigration.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s head of policy, said: “Labour’s message to the country is clear: pay hundreds of billions for foreign nationals to live off the state forever or Labour will call you racist.
“Reform’s plan will ensure only British people can access welfare and that migrants contribute to society.”
Watch: Starmer brands Reform's indefinite leave to remain plans 'racist'
11:19
,
Athena Stavrou
Analysis: Starmer takes the gloves off as he accuses Reform of racism
10:53
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
Battling a restless party, disillusioned MPs and disastrous poll ratings Keir Starmer has attempted to start his party conference with a bang.
He hit out at Farage's migration plan, describing it as “racist” and “immoral”, in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC.
He said: "I do think that is a racist policy. I do think it's immoral, it needs to be called out for what it is".
But asked if he thinks those who are considering voting for Reform are racist, he said: "No, I think that there are plenty of people who either vote Reform or are thinking of voting Reform, who are frustrated, they have had 14 years of failure under the conservatives. They want us to change things."
The gloves have finally come off for Sir Keir, but days after Reform unveiled its plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain that could put many thousands of people who have been in the UK for years at risk of deportation.
The Labour leader will have to use this conference to convince his party and voters that he is strong enough to take on Reform.
Starmer: I need space to deliver on promises
10:30
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer said he needs “space” to make good on the promises he made at last year’s general election.
“I will be judged at the next election on three things, I think, more than anything else,” the Prime Minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
“One, have we improved living standards? Do people genuinely feel better off?
“Two, have we improved public services? Is the NHS in a better place and people can feel it?
“And three, do people feel safe and secure in their home, in their neighbourhood, and that their country is secure?”
Sir Keir, who said he had a “five-year mandate” after his election win, added: “I’ll be judged at the end of that five years, and quite right too.
“But I just need the space to get on and do what we need to do, to do those three things above all else, but also, in a world which is more volatile than any of us have known for a very long time, to ensure that the United Kingdom is safe and secure.”
Sir Keir Starmer insists the government will not raise VAT at the budget
10:14
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the government will not raise VAT at the budget.
Referring to Labour's pledge not to raise taxes on working people, including income tax, VAT or national insurance contributions, the prime minister said: "The manifesto stands".
"We put that manifesto before the electorate. We got elected, and that manifesto stands. I'm not going to go through the details of what may be in the budget.
“Obviously, it's two months away, and no prime minister and no chancellor would ever sit here and indicate two months out what may or may not be in the budget, but the manifesto stands."
Rosie Duffield would consider rejoining Labour under Burnham leadership
09:53
,
Athena Stavrou
Rosie Duffield has said she would be open to rejoining the Labour Party under the leadership of Andy Burnham.
The MP for Canterbury, who left Labour over Starmer’s leadership a year ago, clamed “at least 80” Labour MPs were ready to back the Manchester mayor.
She told Times Radio: “We do need somebody who is much more connected with real people to take that fight to Reform.”
She said Burnham: “speaks to ordinary people, the kind of people that Farage and his team have been appealing to”.
Analysis: Starmer is in fighting mood
09:42
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Keir Starmer’s interview with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC this morning shows that he is in fighting mood as he enters a crucial Labour conference.
“I just need the space to do what I need to do,” he pleads as he is pressed on calls for Andy Burnham to replace him.
“We are in the fight of our lives on who we are as a country we need to be in that fight and not naval gazing.”
It is a message to his critics in Labour and the unions who are getting increasingly concerned about the distant lead Reform currently hold.
But this will be the theme of this conference building to Starmer’s big speech on Tuesday. At that point he needs to persuade an anxious party that he is the right man to lead them in this fight.
'It goes to the soul of our future': Voting for Reform will shape Britain for generations
09:34
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Voting for Reform UK would shape Britain for generations, Sir Keir Starmer has warned, saying the next election will go "to the soul of our future".
Arguing that Nigel Farage's migration plans are "racist" and will "rip this country apart", the prime minister warned that Labour's fight with Reform UK is "different".
"Most elections have always been Labour or Conservative. This is a different election that we're facing. We have not had a proposition like Reform in this country ever before.
"We've seen it in France and Germany and plenty of other countries. This is a different fight. It is a fight about who we are as a country. It goes to the soul of our future", he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ahead of Labour's annual conference in Liverpool.
Sir Keir added: "The effects will be there for generations, and that's why I'm saying to my party, it's all very well naval gazing but we've got a big argument to make here. We've got a big fight... and we've got to win that fight."
Starmer says Farage's migration plan is 'racist' and 'immoral'
09:31
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has dubbed Nigel Farage's plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain "racist" and "immoral".
"We are a proud, tolerant country... And we are a diverse country where people have come here for centuries to this country to make up who we are", he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
"It is one thing to say we're going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. I'm up for that. It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them. They are our neighbours. They're people who work in our economy. They are part of who we are. It will rip this country apart."
He argued that a "patriotic" leader would want to "serve the whole of your country" and have "an ability to bring that country together and walk forward towards the challenges".
"You cannot do that if you are divisive, if you only truly want to serve a section of our country", he warned.
He added: "I do think that is a racist policy. I do think it's immoral, it needs to be called out for what it is.”
But asked if he thinks those who are considering voting for Reform are racist, he said: "No, I think that there are plenty of people who either vote Reform or are thinking of voting Reform, who are frustrated, they have had 14 years of failure under the conservatives. They want us to change things."
Farage's plan to scrap main migration rout will 'tear our country apart'
09:24
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Nigel Farage's plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain will "tear our country apart", Sir Keir Starmer has claimed, saying he has pride in "our beautiful, tolerant, diverse country".
It comes after Reform UK said it could deport hundreds of thousands of legal migrants from the UK and severely tighten the rules for people looking to migrate to the country.
Speaking about the plans, the prime minister told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "I love and have pride in my country. I want to serve the whole of our country, our beautiful, tolerant, diverse country, and I want to serve the whole of that country. And I was arguing against Reform because Reform do not believe in that country. They want to tear that country apart."
He added: "What was said last week about deporting migrants who are lawfully here, who have been here for years, working in our hospitals and our schools, running businesses, our neighbours - and Reform say they want to deport them - that would tear our country apart."
Starmer: I have pride in my country
09:16
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said he has “pride” in the UK, as he argued Reform UK’s plans would “tear our country apart”.
He said on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I love and have pride in my country. I want to serve the whole of our country, our beautiful, tolerant, diverse country, and I want to serve the whole of that country.
“And I was arguing against reform because Reform do not believe in that country. They want to tear that country apart.”
The prime minister said Farage's plan for indefinite leave to remain will “tear our country apart''.
He said: “What was said last week about deporting migrants who are lawfully here, who have been here for years, working in our hospitals and our schools, running businesses, our neighbours - and Reform say they want to deport them - that would tear our country apart.”
Starmer dismisses claims of political turbulence
09:12
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed the idea that he is in political trouble, telling the BBC's Sunday with Laura Keunssberg: "In politics, there always can be comments about leaders and leadership, particularly at times like conference".
Pressed on whether he accepts that he is in political trouble, amid devastating approval ratings, the prime minister said: "We won last year, in July, a mandate to change the country... I always said that would take time".
He added: "We will be judged at the next election, quite rightly, on whether we have improved living standards people feel better off, or whether the public services are better, particularly the NHS, and whether people feel safe and secure."
Starmer faces a difficult party conference - but the Budget will be much harder
08:58
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
If a week is often a long time in politics, Keir Starmer’s next few days risk feeling like a lifetime.The prime minister is at his party’s annual conference in Liverpool, amid growing questions over his leadership of Labour and the country.
The PM hit out at Andy Burnham last week, in a bid to clamp down on speculation after the Greater Manchester Mayor went public that Labour MPs were urging him to challenge for the leadership.But Mr Burnham threatens to dominate this event - much like Boris Johnson used to suck up all the attention at Tory conferences, no matter who was Conservative leader.
But no matter how difficult the next few days will be, they will pale into comparison with the Budget.As our exclusive story reveals today Rachel Reeves has been deal a blow by the Budget watchdog, as it slashes estimates on a key economic indicator for the UK, its estimates for productivity - raising fears the chancellor will need to hike taxes.
For a government whose main focus is growth, Starmer risks running out of time to turn the country around.
Starmer is the least popular PM on record, devastating new poll shows
08:37
,
Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer is the least popular prime minister on record, a devastating new poll has shown on the eve of the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool.
Net satisfaction with Sir Keir Starmer was at -66, the Ipsos poll shows - the lowest satisfaction rating recorded by Ipsos for any prime minister going back to 1977.
Only 13 per cent said they were satisfied with the way Sir Keir is doing his job, while 79 per cent were dissatisfied.
The score is worse than previous lows recorded by Rishi Sunak just months before the general election (-59, April 2024), and John Major (-59, August 1994).
The polling also indicated that Rachel Reeves is the least popular chancellor since records began, with a net satisfaction rating of -56.
Her satisfaction scores are comparable to Kwasi Kwarteng in October 2022, just after the mini-budget, with a score of -53.
The poll surveyed 1,157 British adults between 11 and 17 September 2025.
Watch: Next election will be 'battle for soul of this country' Starmer says as poll finds Farage on course for No 10
08:23
,
Athena Stavrou
Labour members arrive in Liverpool for conference
07:48
,
Athena Stavrou
Senior Labour MPs and members began to arrive in Liverpool on Saturday, ahead of the beginning of the party conference today.
Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Lucy Powell and the Unite general secretary Sharon Graham were seen arriving in the city.
What is happening at the Labour conference today?
07:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Sunday marks the first day of Labour’s annual party conference.
MPs and party members are gathering in Liverpool as they prepare for the conference to open at 11am.
The schedule of speakers on the main stage today is as follows:
11:00am: Conference opens, Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council
11:40am: Hollie Ridley, General Secretary
12:10am: Ellie Reeves MP, National Policy Forum Chair
12:20am: Anna Turley MP, Labour Party Chair
12:30: Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, Leader of the LGA Labour Group
12:35: Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State for Communities, Housing and Local Government
14:05: Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia
14:30: Douglas Alexander MP – Secretary of State for Scotland
Five things Keir Starmer must do at the Labour conference to save his premiership
07:26
,
Athena Stavrou
Starmer insists Labour can recover from poll slump as conference begins
07:19
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said he believes Labour can “pull this round” as a poll suggested Nigel Farage could be on course for a landslide win in the next general election.
UK and its “toxic” politics were “the fight of our times”.
The Prime Minister told The Sunday Times: “I think we can pull this round.”
A poll of nearly 20,000 people and modelling by More In Common suggested Mr Farage could enter No 10 with a majority of 96, with Labour reduced to just 90 seats and the Tories pushed into fourth place at Westminster behind the Liberal Democrats.
Sir Keir hopes that demonstrating his Government can deliver on its promises, such as unleashing a wave of housebuilding, will stem the flow of voters to Reform.
The construction of three new towns will begin before the next election, the Housing Secretary Steve Reed will pledge.
Labour MPs gather in Liverpool as Starmer seeks to counter Reform UK
06:14
,
Maroosha Muzaffar
Labour MPs are meeting in Liverpool for their annual conference as Sir Keir Starmer seeks to counter poor polling and leadership challenges.
The prime minister described the event as a chance to show Labour as an alternative to the “toxic divide and decline” offered by Reform UK.
Starmer faces pressure after polls suggest Nigel Farage’s party could win the next election, amid recent scandals and speculation about a potential challenge from Andy Burnham.
He said the next few days are a “really big opportunity to make our case to the country, make it absolutely clear that patriotic national renewal is the way forward, not the toxic divide and decline that we get with Reform”.
