Labour allies attack Starmer over 'horrifying' plan and accuse party of chasing Reform

Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure from inside the Labour Party after allies at their annual conference in Liverpool attacked his immigration stance, branding deportation tweets "horrifying" and warning the party is chasing Reform's agenda.

At a fringe event hosted by the campaign group Hope Not Hate, activists and Labour MPs criticised the leadership's approach to migration, accusing it of pandering to the far-right.

One speaker said media concern about immigration was "superficial" and argued that coverage was "fuelling the far right." Another said Labour's attempt to boast about deportations was "horrifying" and accused the party of "literally running after Reform."

Nick Lowles, CEO of Hope Not Hate said: "We cannot have a position where we're literally running after Reform and this summer, Reform has set the political agenda... At worst, [Labour] followed up and I will say, look, I'll say this, you're a Labour politician. Me, I say horror. When I saw the Labour Party tweet after Nigel Farage proposed a policy potentially deporting 60,000 people, the Labour party tweet that went out minutes later is that he's a talker and a moaner, we're a doer, we're the ones deporting people."

Labour has recently used social media to push its allegedly hard line on illegal immigration.

On 10 August, Labour tweeted: "With Labour, foreign criminals will face immediate deportation."

On 26 August, Sir Keir Starmer said: "If you come to this country illegally, you will face detention and return."

On 28 August, he added: "Since we've come into office, we've returned more than 35,000 people with no right to be here... any attempt to reach the UK illegally will only end in failure, detention and return."

These posts were condemned at Labour's conference this year bysupporters who accused the leadership of copying Nigel Farage's rhetoric.

The Conservatives said the row showed Labour was hopelessly divided.

Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: "Labour can't even agree with their own friends on immigration. Starmer pumps out tweets about a handful of deportations, while his closest activist allies call it 'horrifying' and accuse him of dancing for Reform.

"Meanwhile, 94 per cent of illegal Channel arrivals are still allowed to stay. There is no deterrent, the only thing Labour are deterring is trust in their own government. Only the Conservatives have a clear plan in our Deportation Bill."

Matt Vickers MP, Shadow Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire, said dismissing concern about immigration as "superficial" showed Labour was "arrogant and detached."

He said: "People see with their own eyes the boats crossing the Channel, the hotels filling up, and the pressure on services. Dismissing that as a media obsession shows just how arrogant and detached Labour have become."

2025 has already been the worst year on record for small boat crossings, with over 33,000 arrivals according to the Home Office. Since Labour took office, more than 56,000 people have crossed the Channel.

Labour has previously opposed Conservative measures such as the Illegal Migration Act and the Nationality and Borders Act, while Sir Keir Starmer has spoken in favour of free movement. In 2020 he said: "I will always defend migrants' rights and make the positive case for immigration."

Labour have been approached for comment.