In a fiery address at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Prime Minister Keir Starmer branded Reform UK's plan to deport legal migrants as outright 'racist' and 'immoral', igniting a national debate on immigration policy and national unity.
This bold accusation targets Reform's proposal to scrap indefinite leave to remain for those not meeting new visa thresholds, a policy Starmer claims fosters division amid rising poll perils for Labour. As Reform UK surges in 2025 opinion polls, this confrontation risks reshaping UK politics, with keywords like racist deportation push and national unity at stake.
Starmer Calls Deportation Policy 'Racist' and 'Immoral'
Keir Starmer, speaking on 28 September 2025, explicitly called Reform UK's immigration policy 'racist', stating it would end settled status for legal migrants earning below work visa levels. He emphasised that such measures are 'immoral' and divide communities, while clarifying that he does not view Reform supporters as racist but as frustrated by past Tory failures.
This stance aligns with official data showing immigration concerns driving voter shifts in 2025. One X post from The i Paper states: 'For the first time, Sir Keir Starmer has branded Reform UK as outright racist, because of its plan to deport legal migrants who do not earn enough to qualify for a work visa'.
For the first time, Sir Keir Starmer has branded Reform UK as outright racist, because of its plan to deport legal migrants who do not earn enough to qualify for a work visa
— The i Paper (@theipaper) September 28, 2025
Follow live UK politics updates as Labour Party Conference: https://t.co/Z0OLpCiUIt pic.twitter.com/wLIL1SCWC2
Reform's Poll Surge Piles Pressure on Labour
Recent polls reveal Reform UK leading Labour by 12 points, with both Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves hitting historic low satisfaction ratings in September 2025. A YouGov MRP model projects Reform winning 311 seats if an election were held, just short of a majority, highlighting poll perils from their anti-immigration rhetoric.
Public views remain divided, with polls showing negative perceptions of Labour on key issues like trust in policy areas. Reform's rise, from 14.7% vote share projections, challenges Labour's dominance, per Electoral Calculus data. Starmer's team has rowed back slightly, with David Lammy noting risks to activists from such labels.
How Reform's Immigration Push Risks Britain's Unity
Reform UK's official manifesto pledges to freeze immigration and stop boats, including abolishing permanent settlement after five years, a move Starmer deems racist. Nigel Farage's party counters by accusing Starmer of implying supporters are racist, amid debates on inclusive patriotism.
The government's white paper on restoring immigration control, published 12 May 2025, proposes increasing settlement periods to ten years for most visas, aiming for managed growth. Yet Reform's harder line, including mass deportation threats, has boosted their support, with More in Common's MRP projecting a potential Reform majority. Starmer argues this exploits fears, warning of a 'battle for the soul of Britain'.
Immigration reforms effective from July 2025, including higher salary thresholds and ending overseas care worker recruitment, reflect broader controls. However, Reform's pledge to scrap indefinite leave, announced 22 September 2025, intensifies the racism debate. Farage retorts that Starmer is 'weak' on borders, per TalkTV discussions.
Reform UK's Richard Tice says Keir Starmer has made the UK "an international illegal migrant, laughing stock."
— Talk (@TalkTV) September 19, 2025
"This Prime Minister is not tough, he's weak, he's gutless, and our borders are completely open."@Iromg | @TiceRichard pic.twitter.com/ct42x9JdD2
Analysts warn that chasing Reform voters with similar language could backfire for Labour, as noted by Diane Abbott on X. The Telegraph's poll tracker shows Reform at 21%, their lowest since tracking began, yet still competitive. Politico's trends indicate Conservatives at 24.4%, Labour at 34.7%, but Reform's 14.7% nibbles at margins.
Starmer's inclusive approach contrasts Reform's, promoting patriotism without division. With no monetary impacts directly tied, focus remains on social costs, like eroded trust. As 2025 unfolds, this row tests national unity against poll-driven populism.
