The director of political campaign group Christians on the Left has warned against the Labour party mimicking Reform’s policy.
“I would like to see a clearer sense of vision from Starmer,” Hannah Rich told Premier Christian News. “I certainly don't think we should echo the rhetoric that we hear from Reform.”
The Prime Minister entered his party conference with his lowest ever approval rating. Just 13 per cent of voters said they were happy with his performance, and a separate YouGov poll suggested that Nigel Farage would be Prime Minister of a hung parliament, were an election to be held now.
Rich told Premier that the rise of Reform UK has been a distraction as well as a threat to Labour, and has forced the party to turn its attention toward migration.
Emblazoned on Labour's red conference banner is the cunningly similar slogan: "Renew Britain".
“It’s because of how loud Reform are at the moment that we are talking about the next election, and looking at polls for four years’ time. Inevitably, all the main parties are having to pivot.”
According to Rich, one in nine Labour MPs are also a member of Christians on the Left. The challenge then arises of balancing populist migration rhetoric with an undertone of compassion.
“We need to [pivot] in a way that is still Labour,” she said. “Some of the things Reform have said are unfair and not moral to a lot of people.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has taken a firm stance on migration at the party’s conference in Liverpool.
Mahmood announced that migrant hopefuls will need a high fluency of English, have a clean criminal record and contribute in some way to community projects before they are allowed to stay indefinitely.
She alleges that this separates hr party’s policy from Reform’s, which would be to scrap the right to remain indefinitely altogether.
Christians on the Left have said they are continuing to pray for Sir Keir Starmer throughout the conference.
"It's difficult to be Prime Minister at any time," said Hannah Rich. "I am praying for wisdom and peace for Starmer... and a good night's sleep."