Reeves backs PM as Reform row erupts over racist claim

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has defended the PM over his take on Reform UK’s immigration policy (Peter Byrne/PA) Peter Byrne

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Labour) has defended Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) after he branded Reform UK's immigration policy "racist". Speaking to LBC, Reeves maintained that voters "can support the Reform party and not be racist", despite agreeing the specific policy was prejudiced.

The row erupted after Starmer told the BBC on Sunday that Reform's plans to remove indefinite leave to remain for non-EU migrants already living in Britain was "racist". The Prime Minister's comments have sparked fierce debate over immigration policy and political rhetoric.

Reeves backed her boss while drawing a careful distinction between Reform supporters and party policies. "I think it is a racist policy," she told LBC. "People support the Reform party for all sorts of reasons, but this policy is a racist policy."

When pressed repeatedly on whether people could support the policy without being racist, Reeves questioned its actual popularity. "Do people support that policy? I'm not sure many people do," she said. "Lots of people support the Reform party but we have to push them on their policies."

Reform Fights Back

Reform leader Nigel Farage launched a fierce counter-attack, sharing newspaper coverage of Starmer's remarks on social media platform X. "The Prime Minister has insulted those who believe mass migration should come to an end," he wrote. "Labour do not believe in border controls -- and they think anyone who does is racist."

In a separate post, Farage declared that "Starmer has insulted millions of people". The Reform leader's response reflects broader tensions over immigration policy and political discourse.

Reform's head of policy Zia Yusuf escalated the attack during an appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain. He called Starmer "literally the least popular, the most unpopular, Prime Minister on record, according to polls this week".

Yusuf argued that British people were "sick and tired of having their legitimate concerns about immigration being sneered at, being belittled and ultimately being insulted". He defended Reform's requirements for migrants to "pay their way, speak English and not commit crime" as policies supported by "the majority, frankly, of the people in this country".

Labour's Conference Plans

Labour plans to unveil its own immigration reforms at the party conference in Liverpool this week. The party aims to strengthen requirements for indefinite leave to remain beyond current employment-based criteria.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Labour) is examining how to ensure settled status "is linked not just to the job you are doing" but also "the wider contribution you are making to our communities". The proposals represent Labour's attempt to demonstrate tougher immigration controls while maintaining humanitarian commitments.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.