Last weekend, Keir Starmer faced a wave of criticism, accused of bending to the influence of Nigel Farage and Reform UK. It’s not hard to see why.
Reform UK’s rise has been striking. For the first time, the party has overtaken Labour in a national poll, sending Westminster into a panic. Days after the poll, Starmer gathered his cabinet, criticising ‘progressive liberals’ for failing to listen to public concerns over immigration. Shortly after, the Home Office released stark images of deportations in progress. Perhaps a hint that the government had got the message.
Starmer’s anxiety about tackling immigration is understandable. Recent polling shows that 45% of Brits now cite immigration as the most important issue facing the country. Further, Reform’s immigration policies are central to their appeal, with 18% of potential voters identifying it as the party’s principal attraction. Given this, it is tempting for Labour to shift right-ward in the hope of staving off future losses. But if Starmer is to succeed, he must resist the pull of Reform’s simplistic solutions.
Yes, high immigration poses challenges. But the pressures driving Britain’s discontent are deeper, rooted in decades of regional inequality, stagnating wages, and crumbling infrastructure. The resentment of recent years has as much to do with failing public services and unaffordable housing as it does with migration numbers. Without serious investment in local economies, a major push for housebuilding, and a health service that functions properly, restricting immigration alone will not solve anything. The frustration will persist, and Reform UK will continue to thrive.
There are no quick fixes. Real leadership means making long-term, strategic choices. If Starmer wants to retain his grip on power, he must tackle these deeper structural issues, not chase Reform’s coattails for short-term political gain. Otherwise, he may find that the voters he is so keen to placate will not reward him at the ballot box when it matters most.
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