Defiant Starmer swipes that critics of his ‘island of strangers’ immigration crackdown are ‘talking rubbish’ as Labour backlash mounts… despite poll suggesting Brits agree
Keir Starmer swiped that critics of his immigration crackdown are ‘talking rubbish’ today amid mounting Labour unrest.
Sir Keir gave short shrift to a rebuke over the his policy shift as he took PMQs this lunchtime.
Since Monday a slew of backbenchers have broken cover condemning his warning that Britain risks becoming an ‘island of strangers’ – forcing Downing Street to deny it was an echo of Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech.
Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts jibed at his dramatic shift in attitude this afternoon, suggesting he was being driven by focus groups instead of principle. ‘Is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?’ she asked.
But Sir Keir sparked gasps in the chamber by shooting back: ‘Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.’
The brutal putdown came as a YouGov poll suggested that Brits are mostly behind the premier’s words.
Some 41 per cent had no issue with the sentiment or the language he used, while a further 9 per cent did not agree with the sentiment but were unbothered by the words. In total 30 per cent believed the language was inapproriate.
Perhaps more worryingly for Labour, half thought the policies Sir Keir unveiled would either make no difference to immigration or increase levels. Just a fifth expect the plan will reduce numbers.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden tried to calm the row as he toured broadcast studios this morning.
‘Honestly, I think this has been way overblown,’ he told LBC.
Keir Starmer took PMQs today as his MPs openly demand he shifts position on immigration and benefits
Left-winger Richard Burgon insisted last night that Sir Keir should apologise, accusing him of an ‘act of political desperation’ after Reform’s surge in the local elections
Asked if he would use the phrase ‘island of strangers’, Mr McFadden said: ‘It depends on the context.
‘I mean, I might, because what the Prime Minister was talking about was, we need a society with rules. We need a society with responsibilities and obligations.’
The premier is facing a barrage of criticism over his new approach – a dramatic shift from his previous stance as he tries to counter the poll threat from Reform.
Some have accused him of emulating Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, when the then-senior Tory said white British people could find themselves ‘strangers in their own country’ as a result of migration.
Launching the White Paper on Monday, Sir Keir said: ‘Let me put it this way – nations depend on rules, fair rules.
‘Sometimes they’re written down, often they’re not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other.
‘Now in a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important.
‘Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.’
London mayor Sadiq Khan insisted he would not have used the phrase ‘island of strangers’ as the PM struggles to contain anger on his own benches.
Welsh Labour leader also repeatedly dodged endorsing Sir Keir’s words as she was grilled in the Senedd.
The White Paper pledged to toughen skills thresholds for visas, close the care work route, demand more fluent English, and make people wait a decade for full citizenship.
However, Sir Keir has flatly refused to set any hard cap or targets, instead merely stating there will be a ‘significant’ in numbers fall by the next election.
The chair of the Migration Advisory Committee has estimated that net long-term immigration will reduce from over 700,000 annually to ‘under 300,000 and probably closer to 250,000’.
It was already projected to drop to around 340,000 in the coming years. Details released by the Home Office indicated it expects the package to achieve a 98,000 reduction in arrivals.
London mayor Sadiq Khan insisted he would not have used the phrase ‘island of strangers’ as the PM struggles to contain anger on his own benches
Left-winger Richard Burgon insisted last night that Sir Keir should apologise, accusing him of an ‘act of political desperation’ after Reform’s surge in the local elections.
Mr Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East and secretary of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group parliamentary caucus, told LBC on Sir Keir’s immigration intervention: ‘The thing that I would say is that I don’t think he would have made this speech yesterday if he were miles ahead and if we were miles ahead in the polls.’
He also flagged a looming revolt on cuts to benefits – with around 80 MPs voicing concerns.
‘I think it’ll be the mother of all rebellions if the government doesn’t do the right thing and drop this,’ Mr Burgon said.
‘That’s why myself and other Labour MPs from the Socialist Campaign Group, have been pushing for a wealth tax as an alternative to trying to balance the books on the backs of the disabled.’
