Reform UK’s Claims

Reform UK has launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of “inciting violence” against their party leader, Nigel Farage during his Labour conference speech.

The party said Starmer’s choice of words was reckless and designed to demonise Farage personally rather than debate policies.

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s head of policy, told Sky News Breakfast that the prime minister “knows he cannot beat Nigel at the ballot box” and has instead chosen to vilify him.

He warned that if anything happened to Mr Farage, “millions of people in this country will hold the prime minister squarely responsible.”

Starmer Rejects Allegations

Sir Keir firmly denied the accusations in an interview with GB News. Asked whether his speech risked inflaming tensions, he replied: “No, not at all.”

Senior Labour ministers also pushed back, suggesting Reform’s outrage was an attempt to distract from its controversial immigration pledges.

Focus on Reform’s Policies

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said Reform “don’t want to talk about the policy they announced last week,” which involved ending indefinite leave to remain.

Under that proposal, long-standing legal immigrants in Britain could face deportation if they did not meet new requirements.

McFadden labelled the idea “deeply un-British” and described it as a “serious mistake” from the party.

Starmer’s Conference Message

In his keynote speech, Sir Keir told Labour members that the next four years would be “a fight for the soul of our country.”

He urged his party to “fight Reform with everything this movement has” and promised to personally “fight with every breath I have.”

The prime minister also criticised what he called “the politics of grievance,” linking it directly to Reform UK and Mr Farage.

He argued that such politics represented “the biggest threat we face because it attacks who we are.”

Security Concerns Raised

Alongside the political row, Yusuf claimed that Mr Farage’s personal security had been cut by “75%” two weeks ago.

He alleged that party donors were forced to step in and fund extra protection to keep the Reform leader safe.

A Home Office spokesperson stressed that security arrangements for MPs are determined independently of ministers, using risk-based assessments.

The House of Commons said it would not comment on the details of any individual MP’s protection, warning that doing so could compromise safety.

Ongoing Political Tensions

Mr Farage has previously received state protection following threats during periods of unrest, which he has partly blamed on media coverage.

As of now, Labour, the Metropolitan Police, and Downing Street have all been approached for comment but have not yet responded.