Target 'divisive' Reform in 2026, Keir Starmer tells ministers
BBC••general
Key Points:
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has drawn sharp distinctions between Labour and Nigel Farage's Reform UK, framing the political choice as between Labour "renewing the country" and Reform feeding on "grievance, decline and division."
- Labour's and Starmer's personal ratings have declined since the 2024 general election, while Reform UK leads in polls and aims to gain in upcoming council and parliamentary elections.
- Starmer emphasized a relentless government focus on the cost of living and delivering tangible change, rejecting calls of weakness and asserting confidence in his team's ability to govern.
- Reform UK criticized Labour for failing to control the cost of living and economic growth, calling the government untrustworthy, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labeled Labour as
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