Labour’s fortunes since its landslide victory in the July 2024 general election have been a study in contrasts. On one hand, Sir Keir Starmer’s party secured a commanding majority in the House of Commons, an achievement that should have solidified its standing as Britain’s dominant political force. Yet, beneath this veneer of triumph, Labour has been quietly hemorrhaging members, grappling with internal divisions, and facing renewed challenges from both the right and left of the political spectrum.
According to figures published in late 2025 and reported by the Electoral Commission, Labour’s membership has fallen to 333,235—down nearly 200,000 from its peak of 532,046 at the end of 2019. The decline was especially sharp in 2024, when approximately one in ten members left, amounting to 37,215 departures in just twelve months. Despite these losses, Labour remains the largest political party in the UK. However, the steady erosion of its grassroots has not gone unnoticed, particularly as rival parties like Reform UK, led by the ever-controversial Nigel Farage, claim a surge in support. A ticker on Reform UK’s website recently boasted 234,460 members, though official figures remain elusive.
Starmer’s leadership, while widely praised for its deft handling of foreign affairs, has come under fire at home. As Der Spiegel noted, Starmer’s first year in government was marked by technical errors and what many observers saw as a surprising ignorance of Labour’s traditional voter base. Approval ratings have been less than stellar, and the party’s internal climate has been described as insecure, even fearful. Ahead of the 2025 Labour Party conference in Liverpool, some party members were left wondering how such a resounding electoral mandate could be squandered so quickly.
Internal tensions have bubbled to the surface, with factions like ‘Blue Labour’ pressing for stricter migration policies, inspired by Denmark’s uncompromising stance. Simultaneously, a new left-wing group, ‘Mainstream,’ has openly challenged prominent figures such as Andy Burnham, the popular mayor of Manchester. These ideological battles have complicated Starmer’s efforts to present a unified front, especially as former leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Labour MP Zarah Sultana have launched their own left-wing party, further splintering the progressive vote.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has skillfully exploited communication lapses from Downing Street, amplifying nationalist and anti-immigration rhetoric that has found a receptive audience. Farage’s social media campaigns, calling for a ‘re-migration policy’ and defending English identity, have resonated with voters disillusioned by both Labour and the Conservatives. According to Der Spiegel, the boundaries of acceptable public discourse on issues such as refugees and minorities have shifted rightward, a legacy of previous Conservative governments and now, to some extent, Labour’s own right-leaning MPs.
Labour’s response has been a delicate balancing act. The party’s 2025 conference, orchestrated with the help of international progressive leaders from Australia, Canada, and Denmark, aimed to recapture the narrative with a theme of ‘Renew Britain.’ Starmer’s speech was notable for its emphasis on British values—compassion, decency, and tolerance—and for directly confronting Farage, whom he labeled a socially divisive figure. “Does anyone still remember the Tories?” Starmer quipped to the assembled delegates, drawing laughter and a sense of shared schadenfreude. Yet, he also faced criticism for risking alienation of Reform UK voters while trying to energize Labour’s base.
Despite these efforts, a recent survey of over 45,300 people highlighted the public’s top concerns: uncontrolled migration, high living costs, soaring energy prices, and a persistent housing shortage. Labour has pledged to address these issues in the remaining four years of its legislative period, but critics warn that mere ‘deliverism’—the ticking off of policy boxes—will not satisfy an electorate hungry for vision and leadership.
The party’s media strategy has also come under scrutiny. On the third day of the 2025 conference, Guardian columnist Owen Jones had his press pass revoked due to complaints about his conduct toward MPs, including accusations of misogyny. The party cited safeguarding concerns, but the move sparked debate about Labour’s openness to dissenting voices and the robustness of its communications. As one commentator put it in The Guardian, “Labour needs people like Owen Jones. The party’s new policy is always to send an MP to GB News when it’s asked. That’s good, but may I suggest it starts sending them to Novara Media as well?”
Starmer did take a step in this direction, granting an interview to Politics Joe, an independent left-wing media group, during the conference—a move seen as a positive, if overdue, gesture towards engaging younger, more media-savvy audiences. Still, the party’s National Executive Committee has continued to exclude certain MPs, journalists, and members, contributing to a stifling atmosphere that some describe as a ‘climate of fear.’ Andy Burnham, for his part, has openly acknowledged this dynamic, arguing that Labour’s internal culture must become more open and less factional if it hopes to thrive.
Financially, the party has not fared much better. Labour recorded a loss of £3.8 million in 2024 after spending £94.5 million—the most expensive general election year in British history. The Conservatives, meanwhile, lost £1.9 million on £52 million of spending. In contrast, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK posted surpluses of £1.1 million and £1.5 million, respectively, with the Greens enjoying a modest surplus as well. Labour’s late submission of its accounts to the Electoral Commission, attributed to unforeseen administrative delays, only added to the sense of organizational disarray.
Looking ahead, the stakes remain high. Regional elections in Scotland and Wales are set for May 2026, widely regarded as a crucial test of Labour’s mandate and Starmer’s leadership. Polls in late 2025 show Starmer holding a lead over Farage—45% to 33%—with even stronger support among former Labour voters now aligned with the Greens or Liberal Democrats. Starmer is framing the next UK election as a clear choice between himself and Farage, hoping that this binary will unite the party and the country behind his vision.
Yet, the path forward is anything but certain. Labour must navigate the crosscurrents of internal dissent, external challenges, and a restless electorate if it hopes to sustain its majority and deliver on its promises. The soul-searching continues, but for now, the party’s fate rests as much on its ability to inspire as on its capacity to govern.
