News

Keir Starmer is about to take credit for something he had absolutely no hand in

Keir Starmer is about to take credit for something he had absolutely no hand inOPINION
Keir Starmer is about to take credit for something he had absolutely no hand in (Image: Justin Tallis/PA Wire)

PM Sir Keir Starmer may have a spring in his step on Friday. Latest data revealed net migration to the UK halved between December 2023 and December 2024. The fall – from 860,000 to 431,000 – has been driven by the declining number of people coming to work and study in the UK.

Now you may notice something wrong with Labour taking credit for this. Over half that period was in the dying days of Tory rule, while the final five months would have been too early for Labour policies to have kicked in. Will that stop Labour taking credit? Will it heck. And while the Tories will attempt a victory lap, not only will their voices likely be drowned out but the Conservative’s credibility on border control was shot to pieces during record post-Covid migration.

DON’T MISS
Powered by 
Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'
Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of ‘gaslighting to a deplorable level’

Comments

Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance
Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance

Comments

Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage - 'don't underestimate me'
Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage – ‘don’t underestimate me’

Comments

Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November - these are the 3 people who couple replace her
Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November – these are the 3 people who couple replace her

Comments

Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement
Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of ‘working people’ with huge benefits announcement

Comments

Keir Starmer 'breaking news' on GB News leaves PM humiliated as 'victory' torn apart
Keir Starmer ‘breaking news’ on GB News leaves PM humiliated as ‘victory’ torn apart

Comments

Tories 'decapitate' leader 'every five seconds' and then demand 'Messiah'
Tories ‘decapitate’ leader ‘every five seconds’ and then demand ‘Messiah’

Comments

Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal
Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer ‘surrender’ to EU in major Brexit betrayal

Comments

Nigel Farge vows to reinstate winter fuel allowance and scrap two child benefit cap
Nigel Farge vows to reinstate winter fuel allowance and scrap two child benefit cap

Comments

Labour's electoral survival depends on pacifying pensioners
Labour’s electoral survival depends on pacifying pensioners

Comments

Nigel Farage issues 12-word warning to Kemi Badenoch after disastrous poll
Nigel Farage issues 12-word warning to Kemi Badenoch after disastrous poll

Comments

Bombshell poll as Labour voters turn to Nigel Farage in hammer blow for Keir Starmer
Bombshell poll as Labour voters turn to Nigel Farage in hammer blow for Keir Starmer

Comments

Kemi Badenoch vows to continue fight for pensioners after Keir Starmer's U-turn
Kemi Badenoch vows to continue fight for pensioners after Keir Starmer’s U-turn

Comments

Inside Reform UK's takeover of former Labour stronghold - 'They've let us down badly'
Inside Reform UK’s takeover of former Labour stronghold – ‘They’ve let us down badly’

Comments

Keir Starmer drops two massive clue Labour are panicking about Reform UK
Keir Starmer drops two massive clue Labour are panicking about Reform UK

Comments

Net migration: Fury as Labour to take Tory credit for slashing numbers
Net migration: Fury as Labour to take Tory credit for slashing numbers

Comments

POLL: Who do you think should replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader?
POLL: Who do you think should replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader?

Comments

Nigel Farage gets another huge boost for Reform UK in humiliation for Tories
Nigel Farage gets another huge boost for Reform UK in humiliation for Tories

Comments

Shock poll shows Reform storming ahead on 29% as Tories drop to FOURTH
Shock poll shows Reform storming ahead on 29% as Tories drop to FOURTH

Comments

Keir Starmer is playing right into Nigel Farage's hands
Keir Starmer is playing right into Nigel Farage’s hands

Comments

Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'
Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of ‘gaslighting to a deplorable level’

Comments

Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance
Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance

Comments

Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage - 'don't underestimate me'
Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage – ‘don’t underestimate me’

Comments

Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November - these are the 3 people who couple replace her
Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November – these are the 3 people who couple replace her

Comments

Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement
Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of ‘working people’ with huge benefits announcement

Comments

Keir Starmer 'breaking news' on GB News leaves PM humiliated as 'victory' torn apart
Keir Starmer ‘breaking news’ on GB News leaves PM humiliated as ‘victory’ torn apart

Comments

Tories 'decapitate' leader 'every five seconds' and then demand 'Messiah'
Tories ‘decapitate’ leader ‘every five seconds’ and then demand ‘Messiah’

Comments

Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer 'surrender' to EU in major Brexit betrayal
Nigel Farage exposes Keir Starmer ‘surrender’ to EU in major Brexit betrayal

Comments

Nigel Farge vows to reinstate winter fuel allowance and scrap two child benefit cap
Nigel Farge vows to reinstate winter fuel allowance and scrap two child benefit cap

Comments

Labour's electoral survival depends on pacifying pensioners
Labour’s electoral survival depends on pacifying pensioners

Comments

Nigel Farage issues 12-word warning to Kemi Badenoch after disastrous poll
Nigel Farage issues 12-word warning to Kemi Badenoch after disastrous poll

Comments

Bombshell poll as Labour voters turn to Nigel Farage in hammer blow for Keir Starmer
Bombshell poll as Labour voters turn to Nigel Farage in hammer blow for Keir Starmer

Comments

Kemi Badenoch vows to continue fight for pensioners after Keir Starmer's U-turn
Kemi Badenoch vows to continue fight for pensioners after Keir Starmer’s U-turn

Comments

Inside Reform UK's takeover of former Labour stronghold - 'They've let us down badly'
Inside Reform UK’s takeover of former Labour stronghold – ‘They’ve let us down badly’

Comments

Keir Starmer drops two massive clue Labour are panicking about Reform UK
Keir Starmer drops two massive clue Labour are panicking about Reform UK

Comments

Net migration: Fury as Labour to take Tory credit for slashing numbers
Net migration: Fury as Labour to take Tory credit for slashing numbers

Comments

POLL: Who do you think should replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader?
POLL: Who do you think should replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader?

Comments

Nigel Farage gets another huge boost for Reform UK in humiliation for Tories
Nigel Farage gets another huge boost for Reform UK in humiliation for Tories

Comments

Shock poll shows Reform storming ahead on 29% as Tories drop to FOURTH
Shock poll shows Reform storming ahead on 29% as Tories drop to FOURTH

Comments

Keir Starmer is playing right into Nigel Farage's hands
Keir Starmer is playing right into Nigel Farage’s hands

Comments

Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting to a deplorable level'
Andrew Neil accuses Keir Starmer of ‘gaslighting to a deplorable level’

Comments

Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance
Nigel Farage finally breaks silence after days of speculation about his disappearance

Comments

Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage - 'don't underestimate me'
Defiant Kemi Badenoch skewers Nigel Farage – ‘don’t underestimate me’
Advertisement

Comments

Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November - these are the 3 people who couple replace her
Kemi Badenoch could be ousted by November – these are the 3 people who couple replace her

Comments

Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of 'working people' with huge benefits announcement
Nigel Farage says Reform is now party of ‘working people’ with huge benefits announcement

Comments

Keir Starmer 'breaking news' on GB News leaves PM humiliated as 'victory' torn apart
Keir Starmer ‘breaking news’ on GB News leaves PM humiliated as ‘victory’ torn apart

Comments

Tories 'decapitate' leader 'every five seconds' and then demand 'Messiah'
Tories ‘decapitate’ leader ‘every five seconds’ and then demand ‘Messiah’

Comments

The bigger question for Reform UK – still way ahead in national polls – is will this news derail the rise of Nigel Farage’s party. Given Reform is more trusted on immigration than the other parties, and given that Labour’s track record on this issue is as bad as the Tories, chances are Reform remains unscathed.

Nonetheless, Labour is clearly signalling its intent to take votes away from Reform. Note tougher immigration policies and the watering down of environmental pledges.

Yet such a strategy carries big risk for Sir Keir, as his party bleeds votes to the Greens and Lib Dems as well. Pivot too much to the Right, and yet more of these Left-wing voters could switch teams. Perhaps this is what the water fuel cut U-turn was all about.

Still, Farage needs to be wary also. Labour is likely in power for at least another four years, during which time anything could happen. As the party of government, yes Labour will get the flack when things go sour, but it can also take the credit when things go well.

Don’t miss… Express readers vote on who should replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader

Reform remains untested, notwithstanding the fact Farage’s party now controls several councils and budgets. Farage knows the pressure is on to deliver locally and that Reform’s critics will pounce on any slip-up.

For under-fire Tory leader Kemi Badenoch meanwhile, the migration fall should be advantageous. That assumes however her voice gets heard, or that voters think this washes away the stench of failure when it comes to the Tories and border control.

Ultimately this news will likely not move the dial too much. Ironically though, Reform pressure could catalyse more Right-wing policies from Labour, thereby weakening the case for Farage’s party even if it alienates many on the Labour backbenches.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *