
A Blue Labour MP has urged caution in branding policies by Reform UK as “racist” for fear of misinterpretation by the electorate.
Speaking at a fringe event hosted by More in Common at the 2025 Labour party conference in Liverpool, MP for Pendle and Clitheroe Jonathan Brash said Labour had to be careful in its use of language in attacking Nigel Farage and his party’s policies.
It came after comments made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg, in which he described Reform plans to make some legal migrants reapply for visas “racist” and “immoral”.
This led to criticism of Starmer in the right-wing press, with the Daily Mail running a headline which proclaimed: “Worried about immigration? Starmer says you’re racist”.
READ MORE: Starmer signals tougher stance on interpreting international human rights law
At the fringe event, chaired by The News Agents host and broadcaster Jon Sopel, Hinder said: “I think we’ve got to be very careful, because people who don’t pay attention to politics – and that’s, let’s be honest, most voters – can easily misinterpret what we say.
“We have our views about policies that are being announced, but at the same time, I think we need to be very careful.”
When asked by Sopel whether he would have made such comments, Hinder said: “No, I wouldn’t.”
Also on the panel was Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds and member of the Socialist Campaign Group, who hit out at Starmer for “spending 80% of his interview with Laura Kuenssberg talking about immigration, rather than the issue which is of most importance to people in this country – the cost of living crisis”.
However, he also defended Keir Starmer over the comments he made about Reform policy and said: “He was asked a very specific question: ‘Is a Reform policy of deporting people who are legally here and have been here for years, is that a racist and immoral policy?’. He said yes – and he was right, and that’s why he shouldn’t allow any member of his Cabinet to push for or introduce such a policy.”
Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of Labour news, analysis and comment– and follow us on Bluesky, WhatsApp, X and Facebook.
-
- SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
- SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
- DONATE: If you value our work, please chip in a few pounds a week and become one of our supporters, helping sustain and expand our coverage.
- PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
- ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].
More from LabourList
Toby Perkins: ‘Biodiversity net gain should be strengthened not scrapped’
Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP: ‘Why I’m backing Bridget’
‘Male suicide Is Britain’s silent epidemic. We must act now’