Why Keir Starmer’s attack on Nigel Farage was wrong

Personal attacks have no place in politics, says Krish Kandiah. Political rivals aren’t demons to be defeated but neighbours to be persuaded

The Prime Minister’s Labour party conference speech in Liverpool this week was one of his most impassioned yet. For months, critics had been accusing Sir Keir Starmer of being too managerial, too technocratic, too uninspiring. This time, he spoke with conviction, declaring his intention to build an inclusive, patriotic, non-racist Britain. He shared personal stories from his childhood that connected with his audience. He described how his father felt “second class” because he worked with his hands, and how that shaped his desire to restore dignity to working people. It was a powerful and moving moment, acknowledging that we must honour the contributions of those who are often overlooked but who form the bedrock of our society.

That vision of dignity is deeply resonant. In Christian thought, every human being carries the imago Dei - the image of God. Our value is not measured by our degree certificates, career path or postcode. It is intrinsic, unearned and equal. When Starmer speaks of lifting up the dignity of the working class, he taps into something profoundly biblical: the recognition that no one is second class in the eyes of God, and therefore no one should be treated as second class in society.