Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Reform UK of “fawning over Putin” as he launched Labour’s local election campaign in Derbyshire. Starmer devoted more time to attacking the right-wing populist party than criticising the Conservatives, highlighting Labour’s view of Reform as a key rival in next month’s polls.
Speaking in an area with England’s worst pothole problem, Starmer criticised the Conservative-controlled county council but focused his political attacks on Reform. He targeted the party on the NHS, workers’ rights and national security, areas where polling shows the public is firmly pro-Ukraine and anti-Putin.
Starmer said Reform “says it wants to run the country” but “can’t even run itself”, referring to internal disputes involving Nigel Farage and MP Rupert Lowe. He also slammed Reform’s voting record, accusing them of opposing bans on fire-and-rehire and exploitative zero-hours contracts, and of wanting to charge for NHS use.
Repeatedly stating “there’s nothing patriotic about fawning over Putin”, Starmer seized on Farage’s past comments. Farage made 17 appearances on Russian state-funded RT between 2010 and 2014, and his parties voted against EU motions critical of Russia. While Farage has recently condemned Putin’s war, he has also said EU and Nato expansion “provoked” the invasion.
Labour’s campaign launch, alongside Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, also emphasised plans to bring bus services under public control and invest £1.6bn in local roads. Elections will be held in 23 councils, with mayoral contests in several regions, including new mayoralties in Hull, Greater Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.
