A source with knowledge of Keir Starmer’s thinking has said Nigel Farage’s Reform are the ‘real opposition’ and the Tories are finished after brutal attacks on Kemi Badenoch
Keir Starmer now sees Reform as Labour’s “real opposition”, and would be prepared to take on Nigel Farage in a live TV debate.
The PM is said to fancy his chances of outshining the Reform UK chief in a television studio, pointing out the devastating impact his plans could have on the NHS. A source with knowledge of the Prime Minister’s thinking said: “Bring it on.”
Mr Starmer is also understood to have told ministers he feels sorry for floundering Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and believes the Tories are “finished”. He has also ruled out a reshuffle in the coming months, telling allies he has confidence in his top team.
A senior Downing Street insider said the PM has a particularly strong ideological bond with Rachel Reeves, shooting down speculation about her future. Mr Starmer is claimed to be puzzled by recent reports that he will make sweeping changes to the Cabinet.
He told allies he has no intention of doing so before summer recess in July. There had been whispers he was plotting a pre-summer reset, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy set for the chop.
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But he has dismissed this as “b****s”. Following breakthroughs in the local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Mr Farage has repeatedly said Reform is Labour’s main opposition.
The PM has told allies he agrees. He is expected to focus on the devastating impact Reform’s tax plans could have on the NHS – privately saying Mr Farage could wipe out a big chunk of the health service budget.
And Labour will also look to punish him for past remarks about Vladimir Putin, whose leadership style the Reform leader said he admires. The PM has previously accused Mr Farage of “fawning over Putin”.
Mr Starmer has also stepped up his attacks on Ms Badenoch in recent days. He told reporters in Albania it is “hard to take her seriously”. It came after she attacked trade agreements with India and the US – the latter saving tens of thousands of jobs.
He said: “If she holds to her principles she’s going to rip up deals with 50 countries. That’s just absurd. She’s against the US deal notwithstanding it saves thousands of jobs in car manufacturing, steel and pharmaceuticals.
“Now without knowing what is in the deal with the EU, she says she’s against it. The only saving grace is that nobody in Europe takes her seriously so it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference.”
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