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Long-standing racism is returning within UK the political arena, and it leaves citizens fearful, Keir Starmer has stated, cautioning how polarizing hard-right political tactics are “dividing the nation”.

Confronting Racist Rhetoric and Divisive Politics

Speaking to GP and TV personality a well-known TV doctor, Starmer accused the Reform UK party for enabling a return of discriminatory and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with years back”.

During the discussion, broadcast on ITV’s Lorraine show this week, the PM provided a clear indication suggesting the limit on child benefits could be removed in the budget in the coming weeks.

Promise to Reduce Poverty Among Children

When questioned whether he would scrap this restriction, as noted by advocacy groups is a major cause of poverty for children across Britain, the Prime Minister said: “Let me be perfectly clear I am determined to reduce child poverty.”

He listed measures the government has already launched such as free school meals, morning meal programs, and child care support but added: “Further action is necessary, and I assure you that I am dedicated on reducing childhood poverty.”

When pressed on whether his remarks meant he intended to remove the two-child cap, Starmer stated “It would be misleading to claim we are going to drive down child poverty unless I was certain that we will be taking various actions to achieve this”.

Clear Indications from Rachel Reeves

Rachel Reeves, gave a similarly clear signal earlier this week when she told BBC Radio 5 Live how finally, a child should not be penalised if their parents are struggling financially”.

Ministers are reportedly planning to remove the cap completely, having originally looked at ways to taper it either for very large families or wealthier families. The Resolution Foundation projects this would cost roughly £3.5 billion in the coming years.

Political Divide and Country’s Revival

During the discussion, Starmer said the political divide currently in Britain existed between Labour’s “patriotic national renewal” and “the toxic division of Reform” and other right-wing groups that are “tearing our country apart”.

“Parts of the discourse we’re hearing – discriminatory talk, polarizing language – which I believed we had dealt with long ago is coming back into politics and it makes people feel very scared,” he said.

“We have to stand up such discrimination, that division, and declare confidently that to be British involves caring for others, requires rationality, is to be tolerant and compassionate, and we’re proud of that.”

Echoing Concerns from Wes Streeting

Starmer echoed language used by the Health Secretary, who cautioned earlier this month how an “ugly” racism reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s had become worryingly commonplace again and that healthcare workers were bearing the brunt of this trend.

The health secretary noted occurrences of both verbal and physical attacks targeting individuals due to race now happened so often that it was now “tolerated to hold racist views”.

“It is time to put a stop to discrimination in this country and we need to place that ugly racist sentiment that’s found expression nationally back in its box and once again create a climate across Britain where racism is unacceptable to be racist,” the Health Secretary stated.

Critical Decision for the Public

The Prime Minister used his speech at the Labour party conference in September to draw clear divisions with his political opponents, saying that voters confronted a crucial decision.

He said he was engaged in a struggle for the nation’s identity, noting although voters had “reasonable” concerns about illegal migration, existed an ethical boundary which some politicians had overstepped.

The PM pledged to “fight” anyone who argued that people who were not white did not belong and that households residing in Britain for years should be deported, stating people promoting such views were “opposed to the country’s progress”.

“Encouraging racial attacks and hatred, that goes beyond concern: it’s criminal. Our political movement is proud of our flags, but if they are displayed alongside graffiti, telling a Chinese takeaway owner to ‘go home’, that’s not pride; that is pure discrimination,” he informed supporters.