Labour's annual conference in Liverpool has transformed into a political and moral battleground. Keir Starmer, in a tone uncharacteristic of his usual restraint, launched a frontal attack on Nigel Farage and Reform UK, accusing them of seeking to undermine the foundations of British society with "racist and immoral" proposals. At the heart of the clash is the Brexiteer leader's shocking proposal: to deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including those with the full legal right to live and work in the UK. A plan that, if ever implemented, would mark an irreversible break with the history and identity of a nation that has always thrived on pluralism.
Starmer didn't mince his words: "They would destroy the foundations of our diverse and tolerant society. Our neighbors, the citizens of our community, who work in our hospitals and our schools, would be expelled. This is not patriotism. These are not patriots." These harsh words were accompanied by an invitation to consider the geopolitical impact of a hypothetical Farage government, ready to "curry Putin's good graces" and challenge the coalition supporting Ukraine. "This is the fight of our lives," he concluded, indicating that the clash with Reform UK is far more profound than a normal electoral contest: a fight for the soul of British democracy.
The Labour leader knows he can't simply denounce right-wing populism. He needs to demonstrate moral strength, but also political pragmatism. It's no coincidence that he avoided labeling anyone considering voting for Farage as "racist": "I understand people's concerns." A statement that reveals his awareness of what's at stake: reaching out to a hesitant electorate, without repelling them, building a bridge between social anxieties and a progressive vision.
For Labour, the risk is real. Working-class communities and peripheral areas, always fertile ground for Farage, still experience a sense of post-Brexit abandonment and a crisis in public services. In these areas, Reform UK's tough language is being heeded. Starmer must therefore balance two objectives: strengthening his party and offering a credible response to those who feel betrayed by the elites.
The proposal to deport legal immigrants is not only legally unworkable: it is also a symbolic wound. It would be tantamount to telling doctors, nurses, teachers, and essential workers that, despite years of service to the country, they do not truly belong to the national community. It is a narrative that devalues the British reality: a society made stronger precisely by the diversity of its citizens.
This is where historical reflection becomes inevitable. Those who, like Farage, would like to expel even perfectly integrated immigrants might be advised to visit the military cemeteries scattered across Europe and beyond. Those gravestones bear names from every corner of the former British Empire: Canadians, Indians, Australians, Caribbeans, Africans. Thousands of young people who fought and died in the two world wars for freedom and against regimes founded on ideologies of exclusion and discrimination. To think today of repaying their descendants with contempt and deportation is not only a political sin, but a profound offense to historical memory.
Starmer hit a key point: Farage's rhetoric has nothing patriotic about it. It's rather an exercise in "nastiness," a term that aptly describes the politics of cruelty for its own sake. True patriotism isn't measured by expelling those who contribute to the community, but by building a just society, capable of welcoming and valuing its members. Nastiness, on the other hand, aims to punish, stigmatize, and create divisions to gain short-term consensus.
This isn't an isolated development: it's part of a global context of populism preaching harshness against the most vulnerable, eroding democratic principles and fundamental rights. Starmer's words, therefore, speak not only to the United Kingdom, but to an entire Europe grappling with similar trends.The Labour leader's appeal is not limited to domestic society. The possibility of a Farage government weakening support for Ukraine is not a remote possibility, but a real risk. A United Kingdom that isolates itself and moves closer to Moscow's positions would compromise not only European security, but London's international credibility. It is a warning that speaks directly to voters: voting for Reform UK is not a neutral choice, but an act with global consequences.
Starmer's message, however powerful, cannot remain confined to the level of values. To truly challenge Farage, Labour must offer tangible solutions to citizens' daily challenges: the NHS crisis, stagnant wages, housing shortages. Only by demonstrating that a concrete alternative to populism exists can we curb the politics of hatred.The appeal to historical memory, democratic values, and inclusive national identity is essential. But without a robust economic and social project, it risks remaining abstract. This is the dual challenge facing Starmer: defending the country's soul and, at the same time, restoring confidence in the material future of British families.
The debate opening with Liverpool isn't just about a political agenda: it's a civic choice. Starmer, evoking "the battle of our lives," reminds us that democracy is fragile and that inclusion is never guaranteed once and for all. The response to Farage cannot be merely political, but also moral and historical.
For this reason, reflection on the military cemeteries and the fallen of the former Empire is not rhetorical, but a warning. Those men sacrificed their lives to fight ideologies that are disturbingly similar to those resurfacing today. Ignoring their legacy would be a betrayal.
True patriotism isn't about chasing away those who respect the law and contribute to the community. It's about honoring the past, defending the present, and building a future that doesn't repeat history's darkest mistakes. In this sense, the battle Starmer evokes isn't unique to British politics: it's a universal chapter in the defense of democracy and human dignity.
Marco Baratto
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