Labour Rift Deepens Over Starmer’s Immigration Comments echoing Enoch Powell

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Labour Rift Deepens Over Starmer’s Immigration Comments

Sir Keir Starmer is facing a growing backlash from within his own party following his controversial comments on immigration, with senior Labour figures distancing themselves from the language he used and drawing uncomfortable parallels with one of the most infamous speeches in British political history. The Labour leader sparked unease after warning that mass migration risked turning the UK into an “island of strangers.” The phrase has triggered strong criticism, including accusations that it echoed Enoch Powell’s notorious “rivers of blood” speech from 1968.

 

"Somebody here has to call this out"

PM Sir Keir Starmer defends his migration speech and the "island of strangers" comment, saying the UK migration policy will prioritise "control, selection and fairness"

"Somebody here has to call this out"

PM Sir Keir Starmer defends his migration speech and the "island of strangers" comment, saying the UK migration policy will prioritise "control, selection and fairness"#PMQs https://t.co/sJs8bBK8Wg

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— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 14, 2025

 

The backlash includes key Labour politicians such as London mayor Sadiq Khan and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, both of whom made clear they would not endorse Starmer’s choice of words. When questioned directly about the phrase, Khan told LBC: “The sort of language I use is different to the language used by others. That’s not the sort of words I would use.”

 

In Wales, Morgan also rebuffed Starmer’s rhetoric during a session in the Senedd. “That’s not the value we have in Welsh Labour,” she said, in response to the prime minister’s proposals to dramatically reduce immigration levels, especially in the care sector. She added: “We are committed to ensuring that we do our best to provide a care service in Wales. That will be more difficult if it is not possible to hire people from abroad.” Her remarks, though restrained, served as a clear critique of the prime minister’s approach, particularly his use of what she termed “divisive language when it comes to immigration.”

 

Labour MP Olivia Blake was more direct in her condemnation, saying the prime minister’s use of the word “strangers” had dangerous connotations and risked fuelling division. Speaking to Times Radio, she said: “I think the use of ‘strangers’ was very problematic, this language of ‘strangers’ has been used by the far right for generations to make divisions within our communities. But it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

 

Starmer’s remarks came during a speech at Downing Street on Monday, ahead of the government’s release of a white paper outlining sweeping changes to the immigration system. While some interpreted his speech as an effort to strike a tough tone on migration, critics swiftly pointed out its resemblance to Powell’s warning that immigration would leave Britons as “strangers in their own country.”

 

The prime minister’s office has firmly rejected any comparison between Starmer and Powell. “The prime minister rejects those comparisons and absolutely stands behind the argument he was making that migrants make a massive contribution to our country, but migration needs to be controlled,” a spokesperson said. However, the pushback hasn’t ended there.

 

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also criticised Starmer for echoing Powell’s rhetoric. “Starmer is echoing Enoch Powell on immigration,” Davey said, underlining the discomfort across the political spectrum over the tone of the prime minister’s remarks.

 

Despite mounting criticism from within Labour and beyond, Starmer’s team has not retracted or softened the language, insisting the message was about balance and control, not exclusion. Still, the controversy reveals deeper tensions in Labour’s approach to immigration—and how far the leadership is willing to go in appealing to voters on an issue long fraught with political peril.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-15

 

 

[Kinnock]

Posturing to try to calm growing concerns about illegal immigration, but no real action.

 

[scubascuba3]

Can clearly see Labour is fully behind immigration rather than every one else

[DonniePeverley]

If they want to get immigration down then do it. They have failed to do it for years now (including the Torys), despite attacking immigrants at every corner. 

 

The rhetoric from Starmer was a disgrace. You look to a leader for compassionate views, intelligence and harmony. He's failed to address immigration, yet then goes on to attack them. We had riots last year because of this kind of rhetoric, which is fuelling hatred. 

 

More Farage pandering, which is what the Tory's did to great cost in the end. 

 

He is never get right wing support, and now is losing the left of his support. Total lunacy. 

 

Just get the immigration numbers down if that's what you want to do. Less talk and dehumanising. 

[JonnyF]

Amazing what a poor showing at the local elections has done.

 

Starmer now suddenly sounding like a cross between Farage and Powell. 

 

"An island of strangers". Has a certain ring to it. Snappy.

 

 

I wonder if forum's Guardian readers will get on board with Starmers latest message?