Starmer to condemn Reform UK’s ‘dangerous right-wing politics’

Sir Keir Starmer will condemn the “dangerous right-wing politics” of Reform UK with the Prime Minister to insist that Nigel Farage’s party are “not the answer for Britain”.

An opinion poll earlier this week put Reform UK ahead of Labour, with other polls north of the border, meanwhile, suggesting the party could win its first ever seats at Holyrood in next May’s Scottish elections.

But Sir Keir will argue the policies they offer are “alien” to the needs of working people.

Scottish Labour conference

The Labour leader is to speak out against the rise of Reform UK when he addresses the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday.

Challenging his party, Sir Keir is expected to say that “if we don’t show a path to the future, others will fill that void”.

The Prime Minister will say that with their “dangerous right-wing politics” Reform UK “will say they are the ones who can tilt politics towards the interests of working people”.

But he will insist that “their proposals do precisely the opposite”, adding that Labour has “to be ready for this test, ready to point out that beneath the bluster, the alternative they offer is alien to working people”.

‘Rare visits to Parliament’

Hitting out at Reform UK, which won five seats in last year’s general election, the Prime Minister will say: “You want to know what Farage and Reform are doing, on their rare visits to Parliament?

“They’re voting against our employments right Bill. They talk the language of workers’ rights online and on doorsteps, but they want to charge people to use the NHS.

“They are not the answer people are looking for. That is not the answer for Britain. And it will never be the answer for Scotland.”

His comments will come as he addresses Scottish Labour conference for the first time since Labour won power in July’s general election.

But the Prime Minister will hit out at John Swinney’s Scottish Government, accusing them of failing to seize the opportunities offered by his Labour administration in Westminster.

The SNP will come under fire for voting against Labour’s budget, with Sir Keir to say the Scottish Government had been given a £47.7 billion settlement that was “the most money ever provided in the devolution era”, providing a “stable foundation for the economy”.

While he will say this cash provides “more money for Scottish schools, more money for Scottish hospitals, more money for Scottish police services, more money for Scotland”, he will condemn the SNP for voting against it, claiming this shows “the same old SNP – gesture politics first, Scotland second”.

Sir Keir will also raise the “possibilities for change” for Scotland if voters elected a Labour government at Holyrood in 2026.

He will tell the conference: “While we will work with whoever the Scottish people elect, just imagine what we could achieve, together.

“Imagine the possibilities for change. If we end the 19-year SNP rule in Scotland as emphatically as we ended 14 years of Tory rule in Britain.

“A Labour government in Westminster, a Labour government in Holyrood, with Anas Sarwar, a Labour first minister.”

A Reform Scotland spokesman said: “Keir Starmer can try and deflect all he wants but the reality is that he is failing Scotland and he is now a deeply unpopular figure here.

“Whilst Labour continue the Tory tradition of failing Scotland in Westminster, Reform offer real change from status quo. Scottish people are sick of Tory and Labour lies.”

The spokesman added: “Scotland is broken, Scotland needs Reform.”