Labour PM’s conference speech comes amid right-wing surge and the left’s plunge in ratings.
A year after his huge election win, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday faced the daunting task of trying to rally his party amid dismal ratings.
His most serious challenge comes from the right-wing Reform UK Party, helmed by Nigel Farage. Its hardline stance on immigration is adding pressure for more border security from Labour.
Starmer’s address at the Labour Party conference showed energy and passion — things he’s been criticized for lacking in recent months.
But will it be enough to help Starmer overcome his challenges, or are his days in office numbered?
Presenter: Nick Clark
Guests:
Patrick Diamond – Professor in public policy at Queen Mary University of London, former policy adviser to Labour governments led by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown
Jennifer Nadel – Political communications strategist and co-founder of Compassion in Politics, a cross-party think tank that works towards legislative change and ethical governance
Michael Walker – Contributing editor at Novara Media, an independent outlet, a former Labour Party member who left in 2020
Published On 1 Oct 2025
