In a remarkable shift from previous party rhetoric, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has openly acknowledged that the Labour Party has historically shied away from addressing public concerns over illegal immigration. Writing candidly in The Telegraph on September 25, 2025, Starmer conceded, "There is no doubt that for years left-wing parties, including my own, did shy away from people’s concerns around illegal immigration. It has been too easy for people to enter the country, work in the shadow economy and remain illegally." This admission marks a turning point for Labour, as the party seeks to reposition itself on one of the most contentious issues in British politics.
Starmer’s forthright comments come on the eve of the Global Progress Action Summit in London, where he is expected to lay out a comprehensive plan to tackle illegal immigration and the rising threat posed by populist parties such as Reform UK. The Prime Minister will be joined at the summit by Australia’s Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, underscoring the international dimension of migration challenges and the need for coordinated solutions.
According to BBC News, Starmer will use his keynote speech to announce the rollout of a compulsory UK-wide digital ID card scheme—dubbed the "Brit card"—aimed squarely at rooting out illegal working and restoring public confidence in the immigration system. The plan, which has already drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, is designed to make it far harder for undocumented migrants to find employment in the shadow economy. Starmer is expected to argue, "We must be absolutely clear that tackling every aspect of the problem of illegal immigration is essential."
The government’s renewed focus on border control comes after a summer marked by mounting tensions over migration. Protests erupted near hotels housing asylum seekers, and a campaign known as "Operation Raise the Colours" saw St George’s crosses appear on landmarks across the country. The climate of unrest culminated in a massive rally on September 13, 2025, when an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 protesters gathered in London’s Whitehall for the "Unite the Kingdom" demonstration. The event, which drew far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson, was described by Starmer as symptomatic of a "coming struggle, a defining struggle, a violent struggle, for the nation."
Starmer’s speech will not shy away from the threat posed by the populist right. He is expected to warn of "an industrialised infrastructure of grievance, an entire world, not just a world view, created through our devices." He will add, "That is miserable, joyless, demonstrably untrue, and yet, in another way, totally cohesive. That preys on real problems in the real world, identifies clear enemies – that’s us." The Prime Minister will urge campaigners who consider themselves progressive to "look themselves in the mirror" and confront areas where they have "shied away from people’s concerns."
Labour’s pivot comes as the party faces increasing pressure from Reform UK, which has surged in the polls. As The Telegraph reports, recent polling by the More in Common think tank put Reform at 28% and Labour at 25%. Notably, speculation is swirling around Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who some believe could challenge Starmer for the leadership and potentially boost Labour’s polling position. With Burnham at the helm, Labour’s support would reportedly rise to 30%.
In response to the growing challenge from the right, Starmer has made clear that he rejects what he called Reform UK’s "toxic" approach to immigration. Instead, he is advocating for what he terms "patriotic renewal, rooted in communities, building a better country, brick by brick, from the bottom up, including everyone in the national story." He will argue that it is "not compassionate left-wing politics to rely on labour that exploits foreign workers and undercuts fair wages." Starmer’s vision seeks to balance compassion with control, striving for a system that is both humane and robust.
The digital ID announcement has not been universally welcomed. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed the proposal as a "desperate gimmick" intended to distract from internal Labour leadership maneuverings. Reform UK denounced the plan as a "cynical ploy to fool voters that something is being done about illegal immigration." The Liberal Democrats, who were instrumental in blocking a previous Labour government’s ID card proposal, have stated they "cannot support" a mandatory scheme.
Starmer’s government is also moving forward on the international front. In July 2025, the UK and France agreed to a year-long "one in, one out" pilot scheme aimed at deterring small boat crossings in the English Channel. Under the agreement, the UK can immediately detain migrants who cross the Channel and return them to France within two weeks, with a reciprocal arrangement for legal asylum seekers. The government has allocated an additional £100 million to support the pilot, including funding for 300 National Crime Agency officers and advanced technology to combat smuggling gangs. Deterrent signs will be installed in French asylum seeker camps warning, "Get on a small boat and you will be deported."
Addressing the economic and social drivers of migration, the government announced a £5 billion funding boost for 339 "overlooked" communities, with spending priorities to be determined locally. This initiative, reported by BBC News, is part of Labour’s broader strategy to restore power to local communities and counter the appeal of populist solutions. The funding includes £1.5 billion pledged earlier in the year to the UK’s most deprived areas.
The backdrop to these announcements is a record surge in small boat migrant crossings, which surpassed 50,000 in August 2025. The government’s response has included the first flights returning people with no right to remain in the UK, as Starmer noted in his Telegraph article. "It is a complex problem requiring action right across government, and in the last few weeks, we have seen the first flights returning people who have no right to be here," he wrote.
Labour’s annual party conference, set to open in Liverpool this weekend, will provide a critical forum for debate on the party’s new direction. Starmer’s message is clear: the time for evasion is over. The party must confront the realities of illegal immigration head-on, while rejecting divisive rhetoric and building a fairer, more secure system for all.
As Britain stands at this crossroads, the choices made in the coming months will shape not only the nation’s approach to immigration, but its political landscape for years to come.
