The past week has been tumultuous in UK politics, with the Labour Party Conference opening against a backdrop of leadership speculation and growing pressure from Reform UK.
Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s comments that Labour MPs have privately urged him to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership sparked widespread speculation. Burnham accused the current leadership of fostering a “climate of fear” within the party, though later clarified that he supports the government and only wished to start a debate. His interventions, however, highlight the growing unease felt amongst the Labour Party over the direction of the current government.
Pressure has also come from Unite, Labour’s biggest union backer. General Secretary Sharon Graham warned that Unite’s support “hangs in the balance” and pointed to the upcoming budget as a decisive moment. Given its track record, Unite is likely to push for the introduction of a wealth tax and a more progressive tax system overall. Graham has also criticised the government’s net zero policies, arguing that ministers have yet to set out a clear plan for replacing jobs lost in fossil fuel industries with equivalent roles in the green economy, suggesting that the union will be looking for clearer guidance on the issue in October’s budget. Ultimately, a break with Unite would be financially and symbolically damaging for Starmer, given its role as Labour’s largest donor.
At the same time, Starmer has sought to focus his fire on Reform UK. He condemned Nigel Farage’s proposal to abolish indefinite leave to remain for migrants as “racist” and “immoral”, and announced two new policies designed to combat Reform's growing favourability: a £5bn “Pride in Place” programme and a new digital ID scheme. The former aims to revive declining towns by giving councils powers to regenerate high streets and block certain businesses such as betting shops and vape stores. The latter would require all workers to hold a digital ID, intended to crack down on illegal employment and reduce incentives for irregular migration. Supporters see these measures as addressing the concerns about community decline and immigration that drive voters to Reform, yet it remains to be seen whether these attempts to strike a more populist chord come to late.
Elsewhere, national polling continues to show Reform surging. A recent YouGov forecast suggested the party would win enough seats to form the next government, whilst Labour would face heavy losses. This has injected urgency into the conference, as Labour grapples with questions of leadership, unity, and how best to counter Reform’s rise.
Taken together, the week has reinforced the adage that a week is a long time in politics. Labour faces the delicate task of keeping its own ship in order, whilst combatting the external threat of Reform's growing popularity.
Headlines
- Shabana Mahmood to demand migrants earn right to settled status - BBC News
- Supporting Reform’s ‘racist policy’ does not make voters racist, says Rachel Reeves - The Guardian
- Reeves to tell business: wake up to danger that Reform UK poses - The Financial Times
Consultations
- Capacity Market: new technologies 2025 - Closes 26th October
- Consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning - Closes 27th October
- Changes to Ofsted inspection fees for independent schools - Closes 20th November
Statistics and Research
- New Towns Taskforce: Report to government - 28th September
- Electric vehicle (EV) driver behaviours and attitudes tracker - 25th September
- Charity Sector Risk Assessment 2025 - 25th September