Nigel Farage has become embroiled in a row over his plan to tackle immigration after Sir Keir Starmer called it “racist”. The Prime Minister said Reform UK’s proposal to abolish indefinite leave to remain for migrants would “tear this country apart”. The Reform leader hit back, suggesting Sir Keir was targeting him because of recent polling revealing his declining popularity.
He shared a chart displaying results from a More in Common survey which found that he could enter Downing Street with a majority of 96 seats. He wrote on X: “Keir Starmer has spent his entire weekend attacking Reform. This is the reason why.”
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Sir Keir branded Reform’s policy requiring those granted indefinite leave to remain to reapply under far tougher criteria as “racist”.
He told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “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.
“I was arguing against Reform because Reform do not believe in that country, they want to tear that country apart.
“What was said last week about deporting migrants who are lawfully here, who’ve been here for years, working in our hospitals and our schools, running businesses, our neighbours, and Reform says they want to deport them – that would tear our country apart.
“We are, at the moment, a leading member of the Coalition of the Willing, corralling and bringing together European countries to fight the aggression of Putin.
“Imagine if Reform came in and they were cosying up to Putin – the impact that would have on our security and defence.”
The survey of nearly 20,000 people and analysis by More In Common placed Reform ahead with 373 seats. Labour trailed in second place with 90 seats, while the Conservatives were in fourth position, falling behind the Liberal Democrats.
