Labour infighting has erupted over immigration as panicking MPs demand action to counter the Reform surge.
Anxiety is deepening over the threat from Nigel Farage’s outfit, with polls suggesting the parties are now neck and neck.
Some of the nearly 90 Labour MPs where Reform came second at the election are pressuring Keir Starmer to respond.
They are said to be focused on measures to bring down legal and illegal immigration, including deporting more people.
However, the calls have drawn anger from left-wingers, with warnings that Labour joining a ‘race to the bottom’ and offering ‘fascism light’ will only boost Mr Farage.
Labour has been struggling to find an effective strategy against Reform, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently directly attacking Mr Farage.
Senior figures believe that the Brexit champion’s previous stance on watering down the NHS could be a weak point.
Some of the nearly 90 Labour MPs where Reform came second at the election are pressuring Keir Starmer to respond
Diane Abbott was among the Labour MPs condemning the idea of taking a harder line to combat Reform
Former frontbencher Clive Lewis warned that a shift to ‘fascism light’ would not ‘stem the tide’
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However, nerves were heightened by a YouGov poll putting Reform top on 25 per cent, up two points in a week.
Labour was down three points on 24 per cent, while the Tories were in third on 21 per cent, down a point.
One MP involved in the informal pressure group told the Guardian: ‘There is a major focus now on how to beat Reform.
‘Various groups have been set up and we have been talking to Downing Street about what works.
‘One of our main messages to the leadership is we need to do more on illegal migration especially.’
Another MP suggested Sir Keir needed to ‘shout louder’ about policies on legal and illegal immigration.
But former frontbencher Clive Lewis warned that such a shift would not ‘stem the tide’.
‘Labour MPs calling for tougher immigration policies to counter Reform UK are missing the point,’ he said.
‘Without a fundamental shift in who the economy and society work for, this approach won’t stem the tide.
‘Instead, it risks handing a future election to the most right-wing government in modern British history.’
Mr Lewis said the ‘real battle is over who offers meaningful change’ and ‘right now, too many feel that answer isn’t Labour’.
‘The answer isn’t chasing the right’s framing—it’s delivering real change,’ he said, pointing to Corbynite policies such as public ownership of water suppliers.
Anxiety is deepening over the threat from Nigel Farage’s (pictured) outfit, with polls suggesting the parties are now neck and neck
In his social media post – retweeted by former shadow chancellor John McDonnell – Mr Lewis said he backed ‘responsible, practical controls on migration and a humane asylum policy’.
‘I just don’t think competing with Reform UK in a race to the bottom is one we can ever win. And actually, nor should we wish to,’ he added.
‘Look at the wrecked shells of European legacy social-democratic parties across Europe that tried ‘fascism-light.’ It doesn’t work and never will.
‘Why have Diet Coke when you can have the real thing?’
