A 'DESPERATE ATTACK' FROM A 'SINKING' PM

NIGEL Farage yesterday accused Sir Keir Starmer of desperation for branding his plan to crack down on immigration “racist”.

- By Martyn Brown and Michael Knowles

He lashed out as the PM said Mr Farage’s policy of ending indefinite leave to remain was “immoral”.

But Mr Farage said: “This is a desperate attack from a man sinking in the opinion polls and leading a divided party." Sir Keir had provoked public anger when he used the "racist" term to dismiss his rival's aim to deport hundreds of thousands of legal migrants. In his most outspoken attack yet, the Labour leader also claimed that Reform's proposal would "tear Britain apart".

But Mr Farage told the Daily Express: "Starmer thinks anybody here on a time-limited visa is entitled to stay in Britain for ever. Labour do not believe in border controls and think anyone who does is racist." It is the first time the gloves have come off properly between Labour and Reform the two parties expected to fight out the next general election. Labour has slumped in the polls after a landslide 14 months ago, with the migrant crisis largely to blame more than 50,000 have crossed the Channel in small boats since Sir Keir entered No 10.

During that time Reform UK has seen its popularity surge.

An Ipsos poll last week put Reform on 34% support, Labour at 22% and the Tories on just 14%.

Last week Mr Farage announced plans to force non-EU migrants with permanent residency to re-apply for visas under stricter criteria including a higher salary requirement and a better standard of English.

Sir Keir took a swipe at the idea during an interview with the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg as he kicked off the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool.