Keir Starmer’s government needs to focus on targeting its core “missions” in areas of maximum deprivation to avoid losing votes to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, according to an independent commission led by former Labour cabinet minister Hilary Armstrong. The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON) found that without a targeted approach, the government risks failing to improve the areas that need it most and wasting billions on increased public spending. The report highlights over 600 “mission critical” neighborhoods across England that lack the necessary social infrastructure and facilities to bring people together. Eight of the top 10 parliamentary constituencies in need of investment are located in the Midlands and the north of England. Evidence suggests that Reform UK has been gaining support in these most deprived areas since the general election. The commission’s polling shows that support for Reform is driven by concerns over antisocial behavior, crime, and litter. The report recommends a more focused investment in social infrastructure and economic development to transform these areas. This comes as a YouGov poll suggests Reform UK has overtaken Labour in national support.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/01/labour-reform-deprived-areas