Reform UK has launched an extraordinary attack on Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the Prime Minister of deliberately “inciting violence” against Nigel Farage through his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday.
The explosive allegation, made by the party’s head of policy Zia Yusuf during a Sky News interview on Wednesday morning, marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between Labour and Reform UK, which currently leads national opinion polls despite holding just five seats in the House of Commons.
Speaking to presenter Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast, Mr Yusuf claimed that over the past 48 hours, the Prime Minister has “embarked on a campaign with his cabinet to incite violence” against the Reform UK leader. The accusation comes after Sir Keir warned in his conference speech that the next four years would be “a fight for the soul of our country” against Reform UK whilst setting out his vision of “national renewal” for Britain.
Security Concerns Raised
In a particularly striking claim, Mr Yusuf revealed that parliamentary authorities had cut Mr Farage’s security detail by 75 per cent two weeks ago, coinciding with the assassination of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on 10 September. The 31-year-old was fatally shot whilst delivering a campus speech, an incident that has heightened concerns about political violence on both sides of the Atlantic.
It was two weeks ago, as people know, that we had the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, the most high-profile political assassination in recent memory,” Mr Yusuf told Sky News. He added that party donors had “stepped in to ensure, thankfully, that Nigel is well protected.”
A House of Commons spokesperson responded to the security claims, stating: “Any assessment of an individual MP’s security arrangements or advice is subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from a range of professional authorities.”
The spokesperson added: “Whilst these are naturally kept under continuous review, we do not comment on specific details so as not to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public.” A Home Office spokesperson said that “decisions on MP security are made independently of ministers.
Conference Speech Sparks Controversy
The controversy centres on specific language used by Sir Keir during his hour-long address to Labour delegates on Tuesday. The Prime Minister called for his party to “fight Reform with everything that this movement has” and declared he would “fight with every breath I have, fight for working people, fight for the tolerant, decent, respectful Britain that I know.”
Sir Keir also stated that the country must “go into that battle armed, not just with words and condemnation, but with action.” On Reform UK’s controversial pledge to end indefinite leave to remain status for legal immigrants, the Prime Minister said: “If you say they should now be deported, then mark my words – we will fight you with everything we have because you are the enemy of national renewal.”
Mr Yusuf highlighted these quotes during his interview, insisting: “Using that language, he knows exactly what he’s doing. The Prime Minister knows he cannot beat Nigel at the ballot box. We’ve seen the most extraordinary campaign over 48 hours to demonise Nigel, and he is absolutely inciting violence against him.”
He went further, warning that “millions of people in this country who, if anything was to happen to Nigel Farage, will hold the Prime Minister squarely responsible for his actions.”
Labour Defends Rhetoric
Senior cabinet minister Pat McFadden robustly defended the government’s approach during an earlier appearance on Sky News, suggesting Reform’s protests were a deliberate distraction. “I think a lot of Reform’s protesting about this is because what they don’t want to talk about is the policy they announced last week,” he said.
Mr McFadden was referring to Reform UK’s pledge to scrap indefinite leave to remain, which could potentially see hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants deported if they do not meet new requirements the party proposes. The Work and Pensions Secretary described this policy as “deeply un-British” and “a mistake,” adding: “Breaking your promise to people who have contributed to this country, in some cases for decades, is not the British way.”
When directly asked about the claim of inciting violence in a GB News interview, Sir Keir replied firmly: “No, not at all.” He clarified he had been talking about a “particular policy” that would see migrants living lawfully in the UK deported, saying “that, to me, would tear our country apart.
Political Context and Polling
The extraordinary exchange comes against a backdrop of plummeting Labour popularity just 15 months after their landslide election victory in July 2024. According to Ipsos polling, only 13 per cent of voters are satisfied with Starmer’s government, whilst 79 per cent are dissatisfied – the worst score for any Prime Minister since the firm began collecting data in 1977.
Meanwhile, Reform UK has surged to around 35 per cent in recent polls, roughly the same share Labour achieved in their election victory, with the party capitalising on concerns about immigration and the cost-of-living crisis. Mr Farage’s anti-establishment message has particularly resonated with voters frustrated by the government’s failure to control small boat crossings, with more than 30,000 people making the dangerous journey from France so far this year.
Broader Implications
The row has exposed deep divisions over how mainstream parties should respond to Reform UK’s rise. During his conference speech, Sir Keir urged voters to reject “snake oil merchants on the right, on the left” who promise “a quick fix, a miracle cure.” He asked delegates: “When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain’s future? He can’t. He doesn’t like Britain, doesn’t believe in Britain, wants you to doubt it as much as he does.”
Mr Farage hit back after the speech, claiming Labour’s rhetoric would “incite and encourage the radical left” and threaten his party members’ safety. He accused Sir Keir and his cabinet of “descending into the gutter” because they could not defeat Reform “on the arguments.”
The Reform leader insisted his party would continue pushing for deportations of illegal migrants, restricting benefits to British citizens only, and removing foreign criminals. He claimed Labour had branded such positions “racist and immoral,” accusing the Prime Minister of implying Reform voters and supporters were racist too.
Looking Ahead
The controversy highlights the increasingly fraught nature of British politics, with established parties struggling to counter populist movements across Europe. Similar dynamics are playing out in France, where Emmanuel Macron faces pressure from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, and in Germany, where mainstream parties confront the Alternative for Germany.
Professor John Curtice, Britain’s leading pollster, noted that Labour won about two-thirds of parliamentary seats with just one-third of votes cast, making their position particularly vulnerable. Accounting for low turnout, just one in five Britons voted for Starmer’s Labour Party. As landslides go, Starmer’s was loveless,” he observed.
With local and regional elections scheduled for May 2026, both parties are positioning themselves for what promises to be a bruising campaign. Mr Farage has vowed his party will “teach Keir Starmer and the Labour Party a lesson” that “British political history will never forget.
As the political temperature rises, questions about security, rhetoric and the boundaries of legitimate political discourse look set to dominate the national conversation. The challenge for all parties will be maintaining robust democratic debate whilst ensuring the safety of those participating in public life.
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Image Credit:
Zia Yusuf addresses Reform UK, Birmingham NEC — photo by unknown (cropped), licensed under CC BY 4.0
