Liverpool (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Prime Minister Keir Starmer will speak at Labour’s Liverpool conference as polls drop to 15%. He plans to reclaim national flags from far-right groups and challenge Nigel Farage’s Reform at 27%.
As The Telegraph News reported, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will make a speech on Friday, Sep 26, 2025, calling for national symbols to be reclaimed from far-right groups. He is expected to say that the St George’s Cross and the Union flag should be for all citizens and must represent unity.
The announcement follows a major protest in London earlier this month led by Tommy Robinson, co-founder of the English Defence League. More than 100,000 people joined the event, which ended in violent clashes with police and resulted in 25 arrests.
Labour MPs warned that the response risked appearing weak. At the same time, a campaign called Operation Raise the Colours has asked people to hang patriotic flags in public spaces. Supporters say it is a show of pride, but critics warn it could be taken over by groups who want to spread division.
What will Keir Starmer say on reclaiming the flag as Labour polls fall in Liverpool?
Starmer’s address comes ahead of Labour’s annual conference, where the party faces serious pressure. Polls have shown poor results, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has been gaining support. Inside Labour, tensions have grown after the resignation of deputy leader Angela Rayner and the dismissal of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Starmer is expected to use the theme of patriotism to change the political debate. He will argue that the flag should not be linked to populist movements but should act as a symbol of national unity.
A Downing Street source told:
“The Prime Minister is particularly going to be keen on reclaiming the flag.
The flag is for all of us. It should be a symbol of unity rather than a symbol of division. A symbol of pride, a symbol of inclusion.”
Labour’s annual conference opens this weekend in Liverpool and will run until Wednesday, Sep 24, 2025, taking place at a time of falling support for the party. Current polling averages show Labour at 15%, a sharp drop from the 34% it won in last summer’s general election.
The numbers highlight the challenge facing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as Nigel Farage’s Reform party climbs to 2%. Some Labour MPs are privately questioning whether Starmer can stop Reform’s rise and rebuild voter confidence.
In his speech on Friday, the Prime Minister is expected to call Mr Farage a “toxic” figure. He will also acknowledge that many people have genuine concerns about illegal immigration and the need for stronger border security. Starmer will link Reform’s advance to the growth of right-wing populism in Europe and the United States and will urge progressive leaders to defend values such as decency, tolerance and respect.
Over his 5years as Labour leader, Starmer has repeatedly used the Union flag as a backdrop. Earlier this summer he voiced support for fans who displayed the St George’s Cross as a symbol of national pride, while stressing that far-right groups misuse it to divide communities.
In an article for The Sun on Sunday last weekend, he recalled his memories of the 1996 European Championships, saying national symbols should bring people together rather than set them apart.
Sir Keir wrote:
“1996. Wembley Stadium. I’m standing in a sea of England flags and fans, watching the Euros semi-final. As the crowd roars with one voice, it’s electric. Football’s coming home.
It didn’t of course. But that day, England stood shoulder to shoulder.
Beyond the stadium, across the entire country, we shared the highs and lows together.
Being there felt like we were part of something larger than ourselves. An England that belonged to our grandparents and our history, but also to our children and our future. And I felt like I was part of it.
That’s the power of our flag. To make us all feel like part of Team England.”