The return of "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg" on September 7, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the United Kingdom’s ever-evolving political landscape. As the program aired for the first time since the summer recess, it brought together some of the nation’s most prominent political figures, each facing a rapidly shifting electorate and a new set of challenges. The air was thick with anticipation—and, as it turned out, more than a little tension.
First into the red chair was Defence Secretary John Healey, who wasted no time addressing the Labour Party’s internal shakeup. With Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister still fresh in the public’s mind, Healey assured viewers that Labour leader Keir Starmer was "going up a gear" with his cabinet reshuffle. According to BBC, Healey described Starmer as "resetting his team" and relayed the leader’s clear directive to his cabinet: "you've got to deliver." The message was unmistakable—Labour, after 14 months in power, was determined to project unity and purpose, even as it navigated the choppy waters of internal dissent and public scrutiny.
Yet, as Labour sought to regroup, a new force was surging across the political spectrum. Reform UK, led by the ever-controversial Nigel Farage, held its annual conference over the weekend in Birmingham. The party’s growing influence was impossible to ignore. Once dismissed as a fringe movement, Reform UK had captured 14 percent of the vote in the 2024 general election—enough to secure five seats in Parliament, a remarkable feat given Britain’s first-past-the-post system, which typically favors the established parties. Since then, its membership has swelled to over 240,000, and it seized control of 12 local authorities in the May 2025 local elections.
At the conference, the mood was one of celebration and defiance. Attendees like Joanne Woodhouse and Henry Godwin personified the party’s eclectic appeal. Woodhouse, a 57-year-old from Merseyside who previously voted Labour, explained to AFP that she joined Reform UK two months ago because she wanted to "protect our community, our traditions." Her disappointment with Labour was palpable: "I'm totally disappointed by Labour—disappointed by everything they are doing. People are struggling." Godwin, a 52-year-old former Conservative from near London, echoed her disillusionment. "The Tories in my mind have completely lost their way... they've lost their conservativeness. So, as far as I'm concerned, there's only one party to vote for, and that's Reform," he told AFP.
This groundswell of support isn’t just anecdotal. Data presented at the conference by conservative pollster James Johnson showed Reform UK polling at 32 percent in late August—10 points ahead of Prime Minister Starmer’s Labour. Johnson noted that Reform’s supporters are often "pessimist patriots": older, non-graduates who backed Brexit, oppose climate change mitigation policies, and feel deeply pessimistic about the country's direction. "They're flocking to Reform because they basically feel they have no other option," Johnson said, citing "vast disillusionment" and a "vast lack of trust" in the established parties. He projected that Reform could reach 35 percent of the vote at the next election, expected no earlier than 2029. "If they're in a two-party system, that wouldn't be enough. But they're in a fractured system, and that will get them a stonking majority," he added.
Amelia Randall, a Reform councillor in Kent—where the party recently took control—spoke to AFP about the party’s momentum. She believes Farage has "a very good chance to be the next prime minister." The optimism was echoed by retiree Karen Dixon, who switched allegiances after decades of supporting Labour and the Conservatives. "He's giving us hope," she said of Farage, describing a sense of renewal that resonated with many at the conference.
Interestingly, the party’s base is becoming increasingly mainstream. New polling by More in Common revealed that the number of female Reform supporters is quickly catching up with men. Even younger voters are beginning to take notice. Marcus Ware, a student who recently joined, expressed admiration for Reform’s leadership and low-tax message, though he admitted some skepticism about the party’s fiscal policies. "He definitely shows leadership, that's what I'm getting," Ware said after hearing Farage speak. "I don't see why young people can't be interested in this." Still, he acknowledged, "the label of being divisive and too extreme is very subjective."
Not everyone is convinced by Reform’s meteoric rise—or its promises. During Sunday’s broadcast, Nigel Farage faced tough questions about his pledge to end small boat crossings within two weeks, a promise he appeared to shift away from under pressure. He was also pressed to condemn inflammatory remarks heard at asylum hotel protests, a subject that has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, for her part, didn’t mince words. She described it as "extraordinary" that some Conservative politicians had defected to Reform UK, telling BBC that Farage "doesn't have a plan." Her comments reflected a broader anxiety within the Tory ranks, as Reform’s rise threatens to siphon off both traditional Conservative and Labour supporters.
Meanwhile, the UK’s foreign policy decisions also drew international scrutiny. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee weighed in on Britain’s plans to recognize a Palestinian state, calling the move "disastrous." His remarks underscored the complexities facing the Starmer government, which must balance domestic pressures with global expectations.
It’s not just about party loyalty or shifting alliances; it’s about a profound sense of disillusionment with the political establishment. As Johnson observed, "It’s very rare in politics to have... voters that you need to win looking a bit like your existing base—that’s a great place to be." For many, Reform UK represents not just an alternative, but an act of protest against politics as usual.
With the next general election still years away, the battle lines are being drawn—and not just between Labour and Conservative. Reform UK’s ascent has upended traditional calculations, forcing all parties to rethink their approach. Whether Farage can turn this momentum into lasting power remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: British politics is in the midst of a transformation, and the old certainties no longer apply.
As the credits rolled on this week’s "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg," viewers were left with more questions than answers. But in a political climate this volatile, perhaps that’s the only certainty left.
