Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Reform UK’s immigration proposals, describing them as “racist” and “immoral.”
The Labour leader was responding after Nigel Farage’s party pledged to overhaul immigration rules, including axing the right of migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), banning non-UK citizens from claiming benefits, and forcing applicants for UK citizenship to renounce any other nationality.
Reform’s Policy Plans
Reform UK argues its reforms would strengthen national identity and protect public resources.
The party says EU citizens with settled status would be exempt from the ban on benefit access and the ILR restrictions.
Indefinite leave to remain allows legal migrants to live and work in the UK without renewing visas.
Reform’s proposals could affect hundreds of thousands of people currently settled in the country.
Starmer’s Response
Speaking to the BBC, Sir Keir said:
“Well, I do think that it is a racist policy. I do think it is immoral. It needs to be called out for what it is.”
The prime minister added that while he condemned the policy, he did not view Reform supporters in the same way.
“There are plenty of people who either vote Reform or are thinking of voting Reform who are frustrated,” he said. “They had 14 years of failure under the Conservatives, they want us to change things. They may have voted Labour a year ago, and they want the change to come more quickly. I actually do understand that.”
Sir Keir stressed the distinction between dealing with illegal migrants and targeting those lawfully residing in Britain:
“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 work in our economy. They are part of who we are. It will rip this country apart.”
Labour’s Position
Labour has proposed its own changes to ILR rules, though its plans are not retrospective and do not affect migrants already settled in the UK.
Reform’s Counterattack
Responding on social media, Reform’s head of policy Zia Yusuf accused Labour of misrepresenting the issue.
“Labour’s new message to the British electorate just dropped: ‘Pay hundreds of billions for foreign nationals to live off the state forever, or we’ll call you racist!’”
Party Tensions and Polling
The debate comes as Labour faces internal pressure. A Survation poll released ahead of the Labour conference found:
- 65% of members believe the party is going in the wrong direction.
- 64% said Sir Keir has performed poorly since taking office.
- 53% believe Labour should replace him before the next general election.
Government Defence
Housing Secretary Steve Reed defended the Labour government’s record, insisting wages had risen faster in 10 months under Labour than in 10 years under the Conservatives.
But he acknowledged progress “takes time” to be felt by voters. Reed also defended Starmer’s leadership:
“I am absolutely sure Sir Keir should lead the party into the next general election.”
The minister also criticised Reform’s leader directly, branding Nigel Farage a “plastic patriot” for what he described as “begging” the US Congress to impose sanctions on British workers.
