UK Politics

Labour turned its fire on Reform on the first day of its annual conference – branding the party’s policies “racist” and warning Nigel Farage as prime minister would “create a cultural wasteland” in Britain.Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Farage of peddling an “immoral” policy after the Reform UK leader pledged to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants, a move which would threaten with deportation those who have been granted indefinite leave to remain. In an explosive interview with the BBC as the Labour event got underway in Liverpool, the prime minister – whose party trails Reform in the polls – said the policy to abolish indefinite leave to remain “needs to be called out for what it is”, adding: “I do think that it is a racist policy. I do think it is immoral.” Culture secretary Lisa Nandy doubled down on Sir Keir’s remarks, warning Reform is “trying to redefine what it means to be British in a narrow way” and would destroy Britain’s cultural landscape.In an exclusive interview with The Independent, she claimed Mr Farage’s assaults on so-called “woke” culture, plans to use an Elon Musk-style Doge to slash spending, and narrow, nationalistic view of what it means to be British would threaten arts and culture up and down the country.Culture, media and sport secretary Lisa Nandy spoke exclusively to The Independent More

A defiant Andy Burnham has hit out at those demanding he make “simplistic statements of loyalty” to Sir Keir Starmer, saying they are underestimating “the peril” facing Labour. The Greater Manchester mayor also warned of a “climate of fear” in Labour as he called for a “debate on our direction” on the first day of the party’s conference in Liverpool.Mr Burnham was greeted with multiple rounds of applause as he criticised the Labour leadership’s handling of dissent, attacking a situation where party members were “suspended for liking a tweet by another political party” or “a Member of Parliament loses the whip for trying to protect disability benefits”.The Greater Manchester mayor came out fighting after the prime minister compared him to the former PM Liz Truss last week, suggesting his economic plans would be disastrous for the country. Speaking on Sunday as the Labour Party’s conference got underway in Liverpool, Mr Burnham did little to play down the growing rift between the two politicians as he hit out at Sir Keir’s decision to suspend Labour MPs over the two-child benefit cap. And, in remarks which inflame rampant speculation over his leadership ambitions, he also said he wanted to reform the whips system at Westminster – which only a PM could attempt. He warned of the difficult elections facing Labour in Scotland and Wales, which it is on course to lose next year. Speaking at a fringe event, he said: “I would say those out there making calls for simplistic statements of loyalty… are underestimating some of the peril that the party is in in those elections next year.”Andy Burnham speaks at a fringe event in Liverpool on Sunday More

For many Labour MPs, this year’s conference is one they would not have minded missing. The party is sitting far behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls and their leader is more unpopular than ever.So it will have been a welcome break from an otherwise somber gathering in Liverpool to play in the traditional journalists v MPs football game. The Lobby XI drew 1-1 with the Labour MPs after a late equaliser More

Starmer brands Reform’s indefinite leave to remain plans ‘racist’A defiant Andy Burnham has hit back at those who have demanded he make “simplistic statements of loyalty” to Sir Keir Starmer, saying they are “underestimating some of the peril” Labour is in.The Manchester mayor warned of the difficult elections the party faces in Scotland and Wales, which it is on course to lose next year.As speculation continues to grow over a challenge to Starmer’s leadership, Mr Burnham told a fringe at the Labour conference,: “I would say those out there making calls for simplistic statements of loyalty… are underestimating some of the peril that the party is in in those elections next year.”Sir Keir has tried to rally Labour MPs at the start of party’s annual conference in Liverpool on Sunday, but 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.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”.Eluned Morgan warns of Reform UK threat Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said her nation had “seen this play before”, as she warned of the threat of Reform UK at the Senedd elections.“We’ve seen this play before in Wales.“Nigel Farage’s Ukip party elected seven members in 2016 and by the end of the term, six of them had left, drawn by infighting, broken promises and internal chaos.“And just this week, their former Welsh leader admitted taking Russian bribes.“And right now they’re attacking our support for Ukrainian refugees.“This lot are… not putting Wales first. They’re putting Putin first.”( More

Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Liverpool this weekend, 16 months after winning a landslide victory, with his future as prime minister already seriously in doubt.It appears that the darling of the conference will be Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is nakedly flirting with the idea of a parliamentary comeback to replace Sir Keir. Labour MPs are talking about ousting Sir Keir if the local and devolved elections in May don’t go well. But Nigel Farage is continuing to attract Labour voters in previously safe parts of the country with Reform enjoying a poll lead of around 10 per cent.The Labour leader my need to put on a brave smile this weekend More

It is often said that the best way for a politician to succeed is not by defining who they are but by defining their enemies.It worked for Margaret Thatcher with her stated ‘enemy within’ – as she called miners leader Arthur Scargill.It worked for Tony Blair with his chosen enemy Saddam Hussein – until we found out Saddam’s threat was grossly exaggerated.After a disappointing first 14 months in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer is trying to revive his fortunes at this week’s Labour conference with a similar tactic.In describing Nigel Farage and Reform as “the enemy” and “racists” who would “rip Britain apart” he has deliberately raised the political temperature.There are many who will applaud him for this.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was speaking on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg as the Labour conference got under way in Liverpool (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Ministers have stepped in to provide an emergency bailout to Jaguar Land Rover after the motor manufacturer was left reeling by a massive cyber attack.Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that she will provide the motor giant a £1.5bn loan guarantee to give it time to recover from the attack and protect the companies in its supply chain which have also been hit hard.The move comes as Labour opens its conference in Liverpool with Keir Starmer and his government under pressure to show they can govern effectively.Ms Reeves said: “Jaguar Land Rover is an iconic British company which employs tens of thousands of people – a jewel in the crown of our economy.Chancellor Rachel Reeves More

Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Liverpool this weekend, 16 months after winning a landslide victory, with his future as prime minister already seriously in doubt.It appears that the darling of the conference will be Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is nakedly flirting with the idea of a parliamentary comeback to replace Sir Keir. Labour MPs are talking about ousting Sir Keir if the local and devolved elections in May don’t go well. But Nigel Farage is continuing to attract Labour voters in previously safe parts of the country with Reform enjoying a poll lead of around 10 per cent.The Labour leader my need to put on a brave smile this weekend More