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

📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/hT9LToxBlW

— 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? 

[JonnyF]

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

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. 

 

The funny thing is, if some working class white bloke with a shaved head and forearm tattoos had posted it on Twitter, Starmer would probably have pushed for him to be locked up.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

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. 

Agreed.

Labour’s actual polices on immigration are sound and a significant improvement on the ineffectual performative cruelty of the previous government.

It’s crass stupidity to even attempt to respond to Farage’s politicking on immigration, Farage will always move the goal posts and can do so without ever having to deliver.

 

The Tories made this exact same mistake, it resulted in their wipe out in the general election and the loss of 674 council seats, over 3 times Labour’s loss of 184 seats.

 

Starmer should be publicizing the effective policies Labour have in place across all issues while challenging Farage on the issues he doesn’t want to discuss.

 

 

 

 

[James105]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

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. 

 

No, the riots were triggered because yet another "Welsh choirboy" went on a killing spree with a knife and butchered little girls at a Taylor Swift dance class followed by an information vacuum as the narrative that "diversity is our strength" has to be protected at all costs.  If no little girls were killed there would have been no riots.

[James105]

33 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

Starmer should be publicizing the effective policies Labour have in place across all issues while challenging Farage on the issues he doesn’t want to discuss.

 

 

Do you have an example of "effective policies"?  How's the "smash the gangs" policy going for example?  

[Chomper Higgot]

40 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Do you have an example of "effective policies"?  How's the "smash the gangs" policy going for example?  

24000 deportation as of last report in March, the highest number for 8 years.

 

 

As for smashing the criminal gangs, I doubt you believe policies come to fruition immediately after announcement? 

Changes to the law certainly do not take effect until the law is passed, progress on that front is being made:

 

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10253/

[Chomper Higgot]

55 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

No, the riots were triggered because yet another "Welsh choirboy" went on a killing spree with a knife and butchered little girls at a Taylor Swift dance class followed by an information vacuum as the narrative that "diversity is our strength" has to be protected at all costs.  If no little girls were killed there would have been no riots.

A total misrepresentation of facts.

 

The riots were organized and coordinated, attacking completely innocent communities.

 

The death of those innocent children was used as a means to stoke hatred against innocent communities.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zshjs82

[GanDoonToonPet]

Ridiculous headline! Anyway, even Enoch Powell didn't echo what Enoch Powell said.

 

The current policy of allowing mass immigration of people with vastly different cultures, encouraging them to live separately in their own 'communities', and teaching different 'communities' to hate each other is a recipe for disaster.

[DaRoadrunner]

Enoch Powell was right. The migrants worm their way into positions of authority in the Govt and Councils. Seven cities in the UK now have a Muslim Mayor. They are also in the Police. Objective:- to take over the UK.

[Chomper Higgot]

21 minutes ago, DaRoadrunner said:

Enoch Powell was right. The migrants worm their way into positions of authority in the Govt and Councils. Seven cities in the UK now have a Muslim Mayor. They are also in the Police. Objective:- to take over the UK.

Worm their way in by getting elected?

[James105]

54 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A total misrepresentation of facts.

 

The riots were organized and coordinated, attacking completely innocent communities.

 

The death of those innocent children was used as a means to stoke hatred against innocent communities.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zshjs82

 

Unfortunately your "facts" are out of date. 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/southport-riots-review-finds-police-have-not-kept-up-with-social-media-risks-13362862

 

"The police inspectorate found no conclusive evidence the disorder was co-ordinated by extremist groups but said it was mostly incited by "disaffected individuals, influencers or groups" online.

A report published on Wednesday said most of those involved were local and the violence "was mainly unrelated to their ideology or political views".

 

So you are spreading (once again) disinformation.   The riots were triggered by the killing of those little girls by yet another "welsh choirboy".  

[James105]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

24000 deportation as of last report in March, the highest number for 8 years.

 

 

As for smashing the criminal gangs, I doubt you believe policies come to fruition immediately after announcement? 

Changes to the law certainly do not take effect until the law is passed, progress on that front is being made:

 

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10253/

 

More disinformation.  The number of enforced deportations is just 6339.  Labour are counting people who left without their knowledge.  

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyw8jw11jwo

 

"The Home Office has also posted a video on X, showing people being escorted onto planes by immigration enforcement officials, with the words: "we have removed more than 24,000 people".

But the claim is misleading. The government's latest figures show that only 6,339 of these were "enforced returns". The majority were "voluntary returns" - and a significant number of these happen without the government's direct involvement or even knowledge."

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Unfortunately your "facts" are out of date. 

 

https://news.sky.com/story/southport-riots-review-finds-police-have-not-kept-up-with-social-media-risks-13362862

 

"The police inspectorate found no conclusive evidence the disorder was co-ordinated by extremist groups but said it was mostly incited by "disaffected individuals, influencers or groups" online.

A report published on Wednesday said most of those involved were local and the violence "was mainly unrelated to their ideology or political views".

 

So you are spreading (once again) disinformation.   The riots were triggered by the killing of those little girls by yet another "welsh choirboy".  

From your own selected quote:

 

“

"The police inspectorate found no conclusive evidence the disorder was co-ordinated by extremist groups but said it was mostly incited by "disaffected individuals, influencers or groups" online.”

 

 

[James105]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

From your own selected quote:

 

“

"The police inspectorate found no conclusive evidence the disorder was co-ordinated by extremist groups but said it was mostly incited by "disaffected individuals, influencers or groups" online.”

 

 

 

Yes but those people were incited by a "Welsh choirboy" butchering little girls in a Taylor Swift concert.   This kind of thing makes people a bit angry.  If no little girls were killed then it is a very simple fact that there would have been no riots other than the riots committed by ethic minorities a few weeks prior.  

 

It wasn't "far right thuggery" as the liar of a PM stated.   It wasn't organized by the imaginary "far right".  It was local people expressing anger that someone could do such a monstrous thing and the idiot authorities keeping things secret when people were demanding information.   Had there been a less incompetent PM he would have spoken to the residents there rather than spending 10 seconds dropping a wreath and then legging it back to a party in Downing street.   

[soalbundy]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

The funny thing is, if some working class white bloke with a shaved head and forearm tattoos had posted it on Twitter, Starmer would probably have pushed for him to be locked up.

 

 

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

The funny thing is, if some working class white bloke with a shaved head and forearm tattoos had posted it on Twitter, Starmer would probably have pushed for him to be locked up.

 

I wonder if he will get a visit from the police for a non criminal offensive speech.

[Red Forever]

1 hour ago, James105 said:

 

Yes but those people were incited by a "Welsh choirboy" butchering little girls in a Taylor Swift concert.   This kind of thing makes people a bit angry.  If no little girls were killed then it is a very simple fact that there would have been no riots other than the riots committed by ethic minorities a few weeks prior.  

 

It wasn't "far right thuggery" as the liar of a PM stated.   It wasn't organized by the imaginary "far right".  It was local people expressing anger that someone could do such a monstrous thing and the idiot authorities keeping things secret when people were demanding information.   Had there been a less incompetent PM he would have spoken to the residents there rather than spending 10 seconds dropping a wreath and then legging it back to a party in Downing street.   

It was “far right thuggery “. This was fomented by Farridge slyly alluding to stories that the attacker of those poor young girls had arrived in a small boat in recent weeks.

When challenged to back up this claim he (Farridge) quoted Andrew Tate as his source FFS!

This was all the low IQ, far right thugs needed to hear to send them on the rampage.

[quake]

We need skilled intelligent migrants.

Not the worlds useless dross.

Wake up,  uk powers that be.

[Tiger1980]

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Agreed.

Labour’s actual polices on immigration are sound and a significant improvement on the ineffectual performative cruelty of the previous government.

It’s crass stupidity to even attempt to respond to Farage’s politicking on immigration, Farage will always move the goal posts and can do so without ever having to deliver.

 

The Tories made this exact same mistake, it resulted in their wipe out in the general election and the loss of 674 council seats, over 3 times Labour’s loss of 184 seats.

 

Starmer should be publicizing the effective policies Labour have in place across all issues while challenging Farage on the issues he doesn’t want to discuss.

 

 

 

 

i think the reason Labour did not lose more council seats can be attributed to the fact that Angela Raynor decided to postpone elections in some areas,especially labour areas. It’s just a shame that we will not have a GE this year as according to numerous polls Labour would be wiped out.

[Gsxrnz]

Enoch Powel saw all this coming. Mind you, it wasn't rocket science.  Previous civil unrest hasn't convinced the globalist uni-government to change course, other than espouse a few meaningless words.

 

When the Brits are ultimately told to "eat cake", the young frustrated generation may go full-on French Revolution. I'd give it 3-7 years.  Long enough for the discontent to become solidified and all hope is gone. 

 

Those pesky young white males with no job, no money, no house, no wife, no kids, and no future, may be a bit of a problem for the ageing hippy and kids-of-hippies run government.

 

"Rule Brittania" may well be their battle-cry.