Labour MPs from Red Wall constituencies have formed a new pressure group warning Sir Keir Starmer they risk losing their seats to Reform UK unless he takes a tougher stance on immigration.
The group, unofficially dubbed the “Red Wall Caucus”, represents constituencies in the North and Midlands that were traditionally Labour strongholds before switching to the Conservatives in 2019.
The group of around 35 MPs are now urging the Prime Minister to be more vocal about his plans to tackle immigration levels in an effort to shore up support in Brexit-backing areas.
Led by Jo White, the new MP for Bassetlaw, the MPs are also pushing for stronger messaging on other working-class issues, including access to GPs, anti-social behaviour and the cost-of-living crisis.
Around 35 Labour MPs have told Keir Starmer to get tough on immigration
PA
The group aims to strengthen the voice of Red Wall MPs, amid perceptions that their post-industrial constituencies with higher levels of deprivation lack representation in the Cabinet.
Members want to see Starmer highlight Labour’s approach to tackling issues affecting working-class communities.
The caucus has already held meetings with senior figures, including discussions with Liz Kendall, the Leader of the House of Commons.
One Labour MP in the group emphasised the importance of proper representation, stating: “If you look at the Government and the majority of ministers, they represent seats that you wouldn’t define as Red Wall seats.”
The Red Wall Caucus is positioning itself as a constructive force rather than an adversarial group, with new MPs typically taking a cautious approach to government criticism.
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The Labour group said they were worried Nigel Farage’s Reform party could swipe their seats
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Jonathan Hinder, Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe and a member of the caucus, emphasised the need for clear communication on migration policy.
“The British people want our borders secure and net migration brought down after the Tories totally lost control,” he told The Telegraph.
He added: “The Government has made an excellent start in this regard, but the challenge now is to clearly and regularly communicate the action being taken on deportations, smashing the gangs, and reducing our reliance on overseas workers.”
The group has established regular meetings with ministers and pollsters to maintain what they describe as a “positive relationship with the Government”.
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The pressure on Starmer comes as recent analysis shows all but two of the 36 Red Wall seats that left Labour in 2019 returned to the party by July 2024.
However, this shift was primarily due to declining Conservative support rather than Labour gains.
Reform UK has emerged as a significant force in these constituencies, with the right-wing party tripling its vote share from 6.2 per cent to 21.7 per cent.
Net migration figures have become a key concern, having reached a record high of almost one million last year under the previous Conservative Government.
Though levels have since dropped by 20 per cent to 728,000 in the year to June 2024, Starmer has not set specific migration targets.
The Red Wall MPs are pushing for clearer messaging on immigration control to prevent voters from defecting to Reform UK at the next election.
