I
t was not a planned intervention. On Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer was asked whether he thought Nigel Farage’s migration policy was racist. Having already branded it “immoral”, the prime minister thought for a moment before responding: “Well, I do think it’s a racist policy, I do think it’s immoral and it needs to be called out for what it is.”
On one level, his comments are in line with his broader strategy of drawing a dividing line between Labour and Reform UK. While Labour represents the politics of “patriotic renewal”, he argues, Reform feeds on the “predatory politics of grievance”.
But to call Farage’s policy racist goes a step further, effectively shutting down political debate. Starmer’s comments have gone down well at Labour conference, where a succession of cabinet ministers and backbenchers have praised the characterisation.
Farage has proposed scrapping outright indefinite leave to remain, a key step on the path to British citizenship that gives people the right to live and work in the UK. He would replace it with a new visa with a higher salary threshold, possibly as much as £60,000. Those who did not meet the threshold would face being forced to leave the country.
