Starmer and Farage in Furious Clash Over Patriotism as Labour Leader Vows to 'Never Surrender Flag'

Liverpool – A fierce war of words has erupted between Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, after Sir Keir used his party conference speech to launch a blistering attack on Mr Farage, branding him a, "snake oil merchant", and vowing that Labour would, "never surrender our flag".

In a direct and aggressive challenge, Sir Keir sought to reclaim the mantle of patriotism for his party while condemning Mr Farage's approach to national identity and immigration. The attack prompted a furious response from the Reform UK leader, who accused Sir Keir of inciting violence and delivering a, "very, very low blow", to millions of voters.

Addressing the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir declared his intention to confront the brand of politics championed by Mr Farage. "We will never surrender our flag, our country, or our future to a politics of division", he told party members. He went on to describe Mr Farage's proposed plans to tackle immigration as, "racist", in a clear attempt to draw a sharp dividing line between Labour and Reform UK ahead of a general election.

The Labour leader’s speech was a calculated effort to position his party as a unifying national force, directly challenging the populist narrative that has been highly influential in British politics.

The response from Nigel Farage was swift and scathing. In a statement, he accused the Labour leader of dangerously escalating political rhetoric.

Mr Farage himself dismissed Sir Keir’s speech as a, "bizarre attempt", to co-opt national symbols. While acknowledging he was accustomed to personal attacks, he argued that the Labour leader had crossed a line by impugning the character of his supporters.

"Now I don’t normally worry about abuse being thrown at me, I’ve got kind of used to it over the course of the last few years", Mr Farage said. "But to accuse countless millions of being racist is a very, very low blow”.

The heated exchange signals a key battleground for the next election, with both leaders vying for the support of voters disillusioned with the political establishment. Sir Keir's strategy appears focused on neutralising the threat from Reform UK by confronting its leader head-on, while Mr Farage is positioning himself as the victim of an elitist smear campaign that unfairly targets ordinary citizens.

This public clash over the flag, immigration, and the very definition of patriotism underscores the deep divisions shaping the UK's political landscape and sets the stage for an increasingly confrontational campaign.