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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Starmer calling Refom and its supporters ‘racist’ is politically suicidal?

402 replies

SpottyAardvark · 28/09/2025 20:08

Starmer has called Reform’s policy of ending indefinite right to remain for non-EU immigrants ‘immoral’ & ‘racist’. Reform supporters, and people who are considering voting for Reform because of their concerns about immigration, will inevitably think the Prime Minister is calling them immoral racists, too. And that will infuriate millions of voters.

I understand that it’s Labour’s conference this week and because he is under a lot of political pressure from his own side, Starmer believes he has to throw some red meat to his party. That’s politics. But Starmer has obviously forgotten what happened to Hillary Clinton when she described Trump voters as ‘deplorable’. That didn’t work out well for her, did it?

YABU = Starmer is right. Reform and its supporters are racists and he should call it out.

YANBU = Starmer has just committed political suicide by falling into Farage’s trap and he has alienated working class voters.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
BallerinaRadio · 28/09/2025 20:38

Absentosaur · 28/09/2025 20:37

Yep. Starmer is an idiot. He’s done the worst thing he could’ve done. How to lose voters and alienate people. 101. Handing the election to Reform on a plate, as things stand. Prick. Idiotic.

Edited

They. Would. Never. Vote. For. Him. Anyway.

EasternStandard · 28/09/2025 20:38

Gettingbysomehow · 28/09/2025 20:36

It's becsuse of this arrogant tosser that we'll probably get fascists in next time.
He went straight for the elderly and disabled almost as soon as he got in, his deputy prime minister had to resign for tax evasion, he himself was caught accepting expensive "gifts". He's done bugger all since he got in and he's managed to deport three illegal immigrants who didn't want to stay anyway.
Now he's doing a Gordon Brown and slinging rascist slurs at everyone.
The country is ripe for Brexit mark 2....Farage.

That was an own goal too. Starmer is gearing up for similar.

YorkshireGoldie · 28/09/2025 20:38

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 28/09/2025 20:13

Starmer's party is drowning in scandals and corruption. He's also crapping himself over Reform's popularity and lashing out. I'm no fan of Reform, but Starmer's toast.

Also, 'racist' as a word has lost it's power. People aren't afraid of being called racist anymore. It just seems to mean English people who have had enough.

Agreed

BallerinaRadio · 28/09/2025 20:39

PropertyD · 28/09/2025 20:36

I see the lefties are out this evening. So every single person who votes Reform are racist? No wonder Labour are doing so badly. Starmer is a massive let down. He changes with the wind and he and his ridiculous cabinet are making such a mess. No plans, after 14 years in opposition. Shame on them

They've actually done quite a lot of good groundwork. You should actually check out what they have achieved

SpottyAardvark · 28/09/2025 20:39

PerkingFaintly · 28/09/2025 20:27

Here's what was actually said. NB this was specifically about the Reform policy of scrapping indefinite leave to remain. Not about other immigration policies.

Keir Starmer calls Reform migrant policy 'racist' and 'immoral'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6xdw1dg4zo

Kuenssberg: Do you think it's a racist policy?

Starmer: I do think it's a racist policy, I do think it's immoral, it needs to be called out for what it is.

Kuenssberg: And do you think that Reform UK is trying to appeal to racists?

Starmer: No. I think there are plenty of people who either vote Reform or are thinking of voting Reform who are frustrated. They had 14 years of failure under the Conservatives. They want us to change things – they may have voted Labour a year ago – and they want the change to come more quickly.

Edited

Technically that might be correct, but how many people are actually going to watch LK’s show on iPlayer to find out exactly what form of words KS used?

They will just see the newspaper headlines “Starmer calls Reform voters immoral racists” or whatever. That’s why I think his words are political suicide, just as Clinton’s were.

OP posts:
TheExcitersblowingupmymind · 28/09/2025 20:40

Valeyard15 · 28/09/2025 20:16

Good to see someone say it. Loathsome party, with an unflushable turd of a leader.

That has to be the best description of Farage.
I salute you on your choice of words.👍😁

Cel77 · 28/09/2025 20:40

SpottyAardvark · 28/09/2025 20:08

Starmer has called Reform’s policy of ending indefinite right to remain for non-EU immigrants ‘immoral’ & ‘racist’. Reform supporters, and people who are considering voting for Reform because of their concerns about immigration, will inevitably think the Prime Minister is calling them immoral racists, too. And that will infuriate millions of voters.

I understand that it’s Labour’s conference this week and because he is under a lot of political pressure from his own side, Starmer believes he has to throw some red meat to his party. That’s politics. But Starmer has obviously forgotten what happened to Hillary Clinton when she described Trump voters as ‘deplorable’. That didn’t work out well for her, did it?

YABU = Starmer is right. Reform and its supporters are racists and he should call it out.

YANBU = Starmer has just committed political suicide by falling into Farage’s trap and he has alienated working class voters.

I'm glad he said it. We have to call out racism as it's everywhere right now and people are getting away with saying horrible untrue things about other nationalities/countries...

BallerinaRadio · 28/09/2025 20:41

SpottyAardvark · 28/09/2025 20:39

Technically that might be correct, but how many people are actually going to watch LK’s show on iPlayer to find out exactly what form of words KS used?

They will just see the newspaper headlines “Starmer calls Reform voters immoral racists” or whatever. That’s why I think his words are political suicide, just as Clinton’s were.

Imagine being so irresponsible as to use those words as a headline, imagine seeing them on the top of a page online or something.

Who would be so irresponsible?

PraisebetoGod · 28/09/2025 20:41

Not everybody who will vote Reform is racist. But all racists will vote for Reform.

CranfordScones · 28/09/2025 20:42

"He's speaking the truth" is missing the point completely.

And Starmer is missing the point by following the well worn path of dismissing alternative viewpoints as "racist".

Why? Because it doesn't give potential Reform voters any reason to vote for him or any other mainstream party. In fact, it will just confirm people's opinions that Reform is the only party that will address their concerns.

TheFrendo · 28/09/2025 20:43

TofuEater · 28/09/2025 20:15

Seriously- can any Reform supporters make a convincing case that they aren't racist? What else arevyou voting for?

I will vote for Reform because...

a) They promise to deport those with no right to be here.
b) They promise to deport illegal immigrants.
c) They promise to greatly reduce legal immigration.

What is racist about that?

ExtraOnions · 28/09/2025 20:43

When did it become wrong to point out when people were being Racist?
What’s wrong with pointing out that, accusing all immigrants of being sex offenders is Racist ?
What’s wrong with telling these “patriots” that you can be worried about immigrating without dehumanising individuals?
When did being Anti-Facist become a bad thing?
When did “British people have had enough” become an excuse for violence?

I would sooner Racists just said “yes, I’m racist, I don’t like Black & Brown people (unless they are playing football, serving me in a takeaway, or winning sporting medals), and I don’t think any should live here”.

The never mention White immigration….

I remember the NF in the 1970s.. and it morph into the BNP .. and now Reform. Same shit, different name.

PerkingFaintly · 28/09/2025 20:45

SpottyAardvark · 28/09/2025 20:39

Technically that might be correct, but how many people are actually going to watch LK’s show on iPlayer to find out exactly what form of words KS used?

They will just see the newspaper headlines “Starmer calls Reform voters immoral racists” or whatever. That’s why I think his words are political suicide, just as Clinton’s were.

OP: To think Starmer calling Refom and its supporters ‘racist’ is politically suicidal?

And I see you got a head start on the newspapers by starting a thread making the same false claim in the title.

You could report your thread to MNHQ and ask them to edit the title for you. Or are you happy with what you've written?

BallerinaRadio · 28/09/2025 20:45

TheFrendo · 28/09/2025 20:43

I will vote for Reform because...

a) They promise to deport those with no right to be here.
b) They promise to deport illegal immigrants.
c) They promise to greatly reduce legal immigration.

What is racist about that?

You're basing your whole vote on getting non white English people out of the country. Gotta admit it sounds a bit racist don't it?

Immigration is not the only issue despite what the grifters would like you to think

LavenderBlue19 · 28/09/2025 20:46

I'm glad he's finally had the balls to say it - too late, but better than nothing.

We need people to stand up to them and call them for what they are. I honestly don't believe that the British public are racist, we've always been a fairly welcoming, live and let live type of country. Recent events are caused by a constant drip feed of racist social media propaganda, funded by Reform and whoever is funding them. Likely Putin, in some form, in his bid to cause discord and hate throughout Europe (and the US, Japan and Australia).

ExtraOnions · 28/09/2025 20:46

TheFrendo · 28/09/2025 20:43

I will vote for Reform because...

a) They promise to deport those with no right to be here.
b) They promise to deport illegal immigrants.
c) They promise to greatly reduce legal immigration.

What is racist about that?

Those with no right to be here can already be deported.
Illegal Immigrants are already being deported (not sure of the difference between this and the first one)
Legal Migration is already reducing.

What are Reform offering on top of that? You can’t run a country based on 3 things - that are already happening.

EasternStandard · 28/09/2025 20:47

Many going to Reform will have voted for Labour previously. If they want to get in again they’ll need some back. Calling them this won’t do that obviously.

BundleBoogie · 28/09/2025 20:47

childofthe607080s · 28/09/2025 20:28

Well you may be concerned about increasing population through immigration but fail to address the questions of how would we fill all the job vacancies without them? Out hotel trade is suffering from too many vacancies , our care industry relies on inmagrants …

if the mainstream parties all think that the country would be in a much worse situation if there was less/no immigration why do you think it’s so easy to get people to accept that immagration is a problem ?

Yet there are 1.67 million people currently unemployed in the UK.

Maybe they could fill the vacancies.

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 28/09/2025 20:48

Trump likes Farage, and he only tends to buddy up with people who have the same values as him (if that isn't an oxymoron).

I think people need to open their eyes about why this is... it wouldn't surprise me if a Farage in power will 'owe' his orange friend and put our country in thrall to theirs, or have to support him at international meets where he tries to push through outrageous requests that damage everything on earth except his power and bank balance.

childofthe607080s · 28/09/2025 20:48

Well the current government is deporting illegal immigrants and those with no rights to be here so it really is only point 3 - reduce legal immgration

why don’t you think that has happened so far? Can you talk me though the benefits and why , if it’s such a simple solution to pressing problems other governments haven’t done this?

Fannon · 28/09/2025 20:48

Starmers a twat with no backbone. He has no idea and no ideas.

Goldwren1923 · 28/09/2025 20:48

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 28/09/2025 20:35

Everything. A system that hates them. A massive state that helps itself to nearly half of people's earnings. Not being able to express what they really think in case they lose their livelihoods. Or worse, getting killed. It was two weeks ago that Charlie Kirk was assassinated just for speaking. Calling people racists or Nazis doesn't work anymore.

Hahaha most of these people take from the state way more they put in and they mostly survive because of the high taxes paid by the country top 5% earners A LOT of which are urban elite/highly skilled migrants.
they LOVE the system and system loves them back

Dymaxion · 28/09/2025 20:49

Also, 'racist' as a word has lost it's power. People aren't afraid of being called racist anymore. It just seems to mean English people who have had enough.

That is actually quite a frightening statement if you think about it ?

JennyForeigner · 28/09/2025 20:49

Oh what, the racisty racists don't like being badged as big old racists?

Cry me a fucking river. I'm sick of legitimising this rubbish.

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