Farage doesn't believe in Britain, Starmer tells Labour conference

Sir Keir Starmer has launched an all-out attack on Nigel Farage's "politics of grievance", claiming the Reform UK leader did not believe in Britain.

The prime minister sought to contrast his vision of a "tolerant, decent, respectful Britain" with what he said was the Reform UK leader's desire to stir division and talk the country down, in a speech to the Labour Party conference.

Sir Keir came to Liverpool facing questions about his leadership, with Labour trailing Reform in the polls and his personal ratings at a record low.

The speech had been billed as an attempt to define what he stands for - and he spoke about his working class background and plans for "national renewal".

But he was at his most animated when attacking Farage, who he sees as Labour's biggest threat at the next general election.

He questioned whether Farage and Reform love "our beautiful, tolerant, diverse country" or whether they just want to "stir the pot of division because that's what works for their interests".

"When was the last time you heard Nigel Farage say anything positive about Britain's future?" he asked.

"He can't. He doesn't like Britain, doesn't believe in Britain. Wants you to doubt it as much as he does and so he resorts to grievance."

Picking up on a favourite Farage theme, he said: "I just do not accept that Britain is broken," as he highlighted investments in high tech industries and the actions of community volunteers.

He stopped short of repeating his accusation, made on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, that Farage's immigration policies are "racist".

But he vowed to fight racist rhetoric "with everything we have".

"Free speech is a British value - we've guarded it for centuries. But if you incite racist violence and hatred, that's not expressing concern - it's criminal."

Sir Keir barely mentioned the Conservatives at all - but he did have some harsh words for his own party, which he said had "patronised working people" over their concerns about immigration.

And he accused politicians on both the left and right of seeking to turn this "proud, self-reliant country into a competition of victims".

In a clear break with Labour's Blairite past, he promised to tighten immigration controls and rebuild traditional heavy industries, saying that "we placed too much faith in globalisation" in the past.

And he announced he was scrapping Labour's longstanding commitment to getting 50% of young people to university, first announced by Tony Blair in 1999, saying: "I don't think that's right for our times."

To loud applause from the hall, he promised that he would replace it with "a new ambition, that two-thirds of our children should go either to university or take on a gold standard apprenticeship."

He also confirmed plans for an NHS online hospital service for England.

But he ruled out a wealth tax in November's budget and mounted a strong defence of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules, saying they were "non-negotiable," with the "global cost of borrowing as it now is".

The cabinet seeks to get into the patriotic mood as they watch the PM's speech

His promise to reduce child poverty - which is at a record high since comparative records began in 2002 - was welcomed by Labour activists, but those hoping he would use his speech to axe the two-child benefit cap were disappointed.

There were several mentions of Brexit - something he has tended to shy away from in the past - including a swipe at the "lies on the side of that bus" during the referendum campaign.

And he welcomed the latest US-backed plan for peace in Gaza - and a got a big cheer for his recent decision to recognise Palestinian statehood.

But like Sir Ed Davey at last week's Liberal Democrat conference, the main theme of his speech was reclaiming patriotism and the British flag from Reform.

With one eye on crucial elections in Scotland and Wales in May, the Labour leader said: "I'm not just proud of the union jack and the cross of St George, I'm also proud of the Saltire, proud of the Red Dragon, proud of our union."

Farage said he had been "shocked" by Sir Keir's speech and he was "unfit" to be prime minister.

He accused the PM of putting the safety of Reform's elected officials under threat with his attacks.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.