Keir Starmer’s Labour needs to climb out of that hole, closing the poll gap and overtaking a Farage and Reform who either have peaked too soon or could seize power

Kevin Maguire is Associate Editor of the Mirror and a politics columnist. He is a frequent contributor to Good Morning Britain and other TV shows. He also writes a column for the New Statesman and earlier in his career was chief reporter for The Guardian. He is a Sunderland AFC supporter.

Tough times lie ahead, not least Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ November 26 taxing Budget. Yet Keir Starmer departs Labour’s Liverpool conference in reasonably better shape than he arrived.

And for that the Prime Minister may in part thank Nigel Farage and Andy Burnham. The Reform UK chief’s racist mass deportation threats and Swan Fake baseless smears about migrants eating wild birds stiffened Starmer’s backbone, giving him moral clarity.

But the battle between Starmer’s inclusive patriotism and Farage’s poison is a clash of civilisation against barbarism. OK, he was preaching to the choir so ecstatic ovations were predictable.

The Suffragettes also knew what matters most are deeds not words and if, for example, the scourge of child poverty is to be ended, that requires axing the vile Tory two-child cap. A commitment he didn’t give.

The PM couldn’t have wished for a finer endorsement than a glowing introduction delivered by Hillsborough Law campaigner Margaret Aspinall. In 2023 in Liverpool glitter was thrown on Starmer by a protester. Aspinall, a mother whose love for unlawfully killed son James drove her to seek justice for all, hailing Starmer’s championing of ordinary people sprinkled stardust on the PM and was worth its weight in gold.

Labour needs to climb out of that hole, closing the poll gap and overtaking a Farage and Reform who either have peaked too soon or could seize power. Next week the conference roadshow rolls into Manchester where the Conservatives, remember them? quipped Starmer, is a party really on its knees and mutating into a poor Farage tribute act.

Many, many unpredictable long weeks of politics lie ahead before an election that constitutionally could be as late as 15 August 2029. Nobody is able to predict the future, including Starmer himself, but at a personal fork in the road he suddenly has fight in his belly and that could put him and Labour back in the game.

The PM suddenly has fight in his belly, Kevin Maguire writes(Image: PA)

Then there was Andy Burnham throwing down the gauntlet until forced to pick it back up, the King of the North’s crown slightly tarnished for now. The engaging Greater Manchester Mayor’s internal challenge temporarily united frustrated, disappointed and worried Cabinet Ministers, MPs and factions behind the PM.

Starmer’s keynote speech was one of his best, stirring in moments and forceful. Flag-waving isn’t everybody’s taste, including mine, a plastic Union Jack never putting food on a plate or building a house.