Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has issued a blistering condemnation of Reform UK following the controversial endorsement from far-right activist Tommy Robinson, demanding Nigel Farage clarify his party's position on the backing.
In a dramatic intervention during the final days of the election campaign, Starmer accused Farage of presiding over a party that has become a "magnet for the far-right" and called the endorsement a "damning moment" for Reform UK.
Dangerous Endorsement Sparks Political Firestorm
The political storm erupted when Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and who leads the far-right English Defence League, publicly threw his support behind Reform UK. The controversial figure announced he would be campaigning for the party and even standing as a 'guerilla candidate' in certain constituencies.
Sir Keir didn't mince words when addressing the development: "This is a damning moment for the Reform party and for Nigel Farage. When you have someone like that endorsing your party, it's a moment I think for reflection."
Farage's Response Under Scrutiny
The Labour leader highlighted what he called Farage's "weak response" to the endorsement, noting that the Reform UK leader had merely stated he didn't "want or need" Robinson's support rather than explicitly rejecting it.
"Nigel Farage should say in clear terms that he doesn't want that support, he doesn't want that endorsement, and he will reject it," Starmer insisted during a campaign event in Kent.
Broader Concerns About Reform UK's Direction
Starmer's comments reflect growing concerns about the nature of support being attracted by Farage's party. The Labour leader suggested that Robinson's endorsement was symptomatic of deeper issues within Reform UK's political positioning.
"This isn't just about one endorsement," Starmer warned. "It's about what your party represents and who it attracts. When divisive figures like Robinson gravitate toward your movement, it tells you something important about the direction you're taking British politics."
Election Implications and Democratic Values
With polling day rapidly approaching, Starmer framed the controversy as a matter of fundamental democratic values. He urged voters to consider what Robinson's endorsement revealed about Reform UK's appeal and message.
"The British people deserve to know exactly what they're being asked to vote for," Starmer stated. "When a party attracts this kind of support, it raises serious questions about its values and its vision for our country."
The Labour leader's intervention marks one of the most forceful responses to the Robinson endorsement controversy and sets the stage for a heated final stretch of campaigning as parties position themselves on issues of extremism and acceptable political discourse.
