By WTF Land
In the foggy mornings of Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is in full swing, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life. It's September 30, 2025, and the once-celebrated leader who swept to power with a landslide victory is now staring at polls that have his approval rating in the basement – a dismal -56, making him the most unpopular PM on record, even worse than Liz Truss. Starmer's speech on Tuesday was meant to be a rallying cry, urging his party to unite against the rising tide of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. But as I stand here amid the bustling delegates and the faint echo of pro-Palestine chants from outside, I can't help but wonder: is this the beginning of the end for Labour?
Let's rewind a bit. Just over a year ago, Starmer promised a new dawn for Britain – economic growth, better public services, and a firm hand on immigration. Fast forward to now, and the reality is stark. Inflation is stubbornly high, the economy is sluggish, and public services like the NHS are on life support. Starmer's government has been plagued by high-profile resignations – Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner quit over a property tax scandal, and the UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, was dismissed due to his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein. These blunders have left Labour looking disorganized, and Starmer's team scrambling to regain control.
But the real threat is Reform UK. Farage's party, with its hardline stance on immigration, has topped opinion polls for months, leading Labour by 15 points in some surveys. A recent poll even projected Reform winning 352 seats in a hypothetical election, reducing Labour to a mere 90. Farage, fresh from testifying in the US on internet censorship, is positioning Reform as the voice of the disenchanted. His proposal to end indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for migrants – forcing legal residents to reapply under tougher rules – has been labeled "racist" and "immoral" by Starmer. But for many Brits struggling with housing shortages and strained services, it's a message that resonates.
Starmer's response? In his Liverpool speech, he warned of a "fight for the soul of Britain," painting Reform's plans as divisive and urging Labour to focus on "decency and renewal." He announced NHS Online, a digital platform set to launch in 2027, promising 8.5 million extra appointments. But critics say it's too little, too late. Henry Zeffman, a political correspondent, notes that Starmer's strategy mirrors Emmanuel Macron's in France – positioning against the far-right – but it hasn't shifted the polls yet.
Immigration remains the flashpoint. Over 28,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year, and hotels housing asylum-seekers have become protest hotspots. In Epping, a court order forced the eviction of migrants from the Bell Hotel after local disruptions, leading to scuffles between anti-immigration protesters and counter-demonstrators. Similar scenes played out in Glasgow on 20 September, with hundreds clashing over racism accusations. The government is speeding up asylum appeals and clearing backlogs, but with 111,084 claims in the year to June, the system is overwhelmed.
Reform's Zia Yusuf hit back at Starmer's "racist" label, calling it a distraction from Labour's failures. And with Farage's party attracting former Labour voters, Starmer's team is ramping up data collection on non-voters to understand their grievances. But as Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hints at a leadership bid, internal divisions are bubbling.
So, is Starmer's bid to save Labour too late? The May elections will be a test. If Reform surges, Britain could see a political earthquake. For now, the fog in Liverpool mirrors the uncertainty in Westminster. Stay tuned – this is just the beginning.
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