Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a fierce counterattack against Labour’s leadership, declaring his party now dominates opinion polls whilst accusing Government ministers of branding immigration critics as racist.

In a video posted on X, Mr Farage claimed Labour was experiencing “absolute blind panic” over Reform’s electoral performance.

“We’re massively ahead of them in the polls. They know it,” he stated.

The Reform leader specifically targeted senior Labour figures, saying: “So, according to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves and Bridget Phillipson, if you think young men that have illegally crossed the English Channel should be detained and deported — you’re racist.”

He extended his criticism to those questioning benefit claims by foreign nationals, asserting Labour dismisses such concerns as racist.

The Labour Party conference in Liverpool has witnessed multiple senior figures launching sharp attacks on Mr Farage and Reform UK’s immigration policies.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC’s Sunday programme that Reform’s proposal to remove migrants who have lawfully resided in Britain for years would “tear Britain apart.”

When questioned whether the policy was racist, Sir Keir responded: “Well, I do think that it’s a racist policy. I do think it’s immoral, it needs to be called out for what it is.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson went further during a News Agents podcast appearance, stating: “It’s hard to escape the conclusion that because many of the things that he does and says, I think, drift into racism.”

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy characterised Mr Farage’s policies as “small-minded” and “weird,” expressing enthusiasm about confronting Reform UK.

The Reform chief directed particularly harsh criticism at the Prime Minister, declaring: “I’m now very much of the view that Starmer simply is not fit to be Prime Minister.”

The Reform leader characterised Labour’s approach as chaotic, stating they were “all over the place” and “at sea”.

He predicted his party’s advantage would expand due to Labour’s conduct, telling supporters: “All I can say is Reform’s lead, because of their behaviour, can only grow — because you’re not racist. You’re sensible. You’re grown up. You know what’s right for this country and its people.”

Mr Farage dismissed Labour’s attacks as desperate abuse from a government that had lost public confidence.

Recent polling data suggests Reform UK has achieved a remarkable position in British politics, with a YouGov megapoll indicating Farage could be heading for Downing Street.

The survey, employing MRP methodology to project constituency results, showed Reform securing 311 MPs if an election occurred now, just short of an outright majority but sufficient for Farage to become Prime Minister.

Labour would face catastrophic losses exceeding 250 seats from their current total, whilst the Conservatives would experience their worst-ever result with merely 45 MPs, falling behind the Liberal Democrats.

The poll indicated Reform commanding 27 per cent of national vote share, with Labour trailing at 21 per cent and the Conservatives at 17 per cent.

Such an outcome would represent the largest inter-election seat gain in British political history.