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Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Prime Minister apologises for 'overly rude' comment that North Wales MP 'talks rubbish'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sir Keir Starmer has apologised over his remark that a North Wales MP "talks rubbish," acknowledging it was "overly rude". During Tuesday's session at the despatch box, where he answered queries regarding the UK-EU deal, the Prime Minister extended an apology to Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru Westminster leader and MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, reports PA. Ms Saville Roberts addressed the Commons highlighting: "The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, 'we should retain the benefits of the single market'." She then posed a question to reflect on his past views, asking, "Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?". To this Sir Keir responded with candour: "I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise." He continued, affirming respect for his colleague: "I do respect the honourable member." Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described "red lines" on the single market in Labour's 2024 manifesto and added the Government had "kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal". (Image: At last week's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Ms Saville Roberts asked Sir Keir about a speech he made to launch the Government's Immigration White Paper. She said Sir Keir "once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and for defending free movement" but added he now "talks of 'islands of strangers' and 'taking back control'". Ms Saville Roberts asked: "It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?" The Prime Minister replied: "Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish." He also told the Commons: "I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers, and the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that at risk, and that's why we're fixing the system based on principles of control, selection and fairness." Launching the Immigration White Paper last week, Sir Keir said in a speech that "nations depend on rules – fair rules" and added: "Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together." He said the strategy – including tougher English language requirements and a university degree threshold for skilled worker visa applicants – would help "take back control" of Britain's borders and "close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country". Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
21-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Prime Minister apologises for 'rude' comment that North Wales MP 'talks rubbish'
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised over his remark that a North Wales MP "talks rubbish," acknowledging it was "overly rude". During Tuesday's session at the despatch box, where he answered queries regarding the UK-EU deal, the Prime Minister extended an apology to Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru Westminster leader and MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, reports PA. Ms Saville Roberts addressed the Commons highlighting: "The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, 'we should retain the benefits of the single market'." She then posed a question to reflect on his past views, asking, "Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?". To this Sir Keir responded with candour: "I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise." He continued, affirming respect for his colleague: "I do respect the honourable member." Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described "red lines" on the single market in Labour's 2024 manifesto and added the Government had "kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal". Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts (Image: At last week's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Ms Saville Roberts asked Sir Keir about a speech he made to launch the Government's Immigration White Paper. She said Sir Keir "once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and for defending free movement" but added he now "talks of 'islands of strangers' and 'taking back control'". Ms Saville Roberts asked: "It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?" The Prime Minister replied: "Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish." He also told the Commons: "I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers, and the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that at risk, and that's why we're fixing the system based on principles of control, selection and fairness." Launching the Immigration White Paper last week, Sir Keir said in a speech that "nations depend on rules – fair rules" and added: "Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together." He said the strategy – including tougher English language requirements and a university degree threshold for skilled worker visa applicants – would help "take back control" of Britain's borders and "close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country". Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
21-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Live
Prime Minister apologises for 'overly rude' comment that North Wales MP 'talks rubbish'
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised over his remark that a North Wales MP "talks rubbish," acknowledging it was "overly rude". During Tuesday's session at the despatch box, where he answered queries regarding the UK-EU deal, the Prime Minister extended an apology to Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru Westminster leader and MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, reports PA. Ms Saville Roberts addressed the Commons highlighting: "The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, 'we should retain the benefits of the single market'." She then posed a question to reflect on his past views, asking, "Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?". To this Sir Keir responded with candour: "I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise." He continued, affirming respect for his colleague: "I do respect the honourable member." Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described "red lines" on the single market in Labour's 2024 manifesto and added the Government had "kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal". At last week's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Ms Saville Roberts asked Sir Keir about a speech he made to launch the Government's Immigration White Paper. She said Sir Keir "once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and for defending free movement" but added he now "talks of 'islands of strangers' and 'taking back control'". Ms Saville Roberts asked: "It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?" The Prime Minister replied: "Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish." He also told the Commons: "I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers, and the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that at risk, and that's why we're fixing the system based on principles of control, selection and fairness." Launching the Immigration White Paper last week, Sir Keir said in a speech that "nations depend on rules – fair rules" and added: "Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together." He said the strategy – including tougher English language requirements and a university degree threshold for skilled worker visa applicants – would help "take back control" of Britain's borders and "close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country".
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sir Keir Starmer apologises for being 'overly rude' to Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts
Sir Keir Starmer has apologised for being "overly rude" to a Welsh MP after accusing her of "talking rubbish". The prime minister faced criticism over the way he spoke to 's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts after she suggested he had dropped his principles to launch a crackdown on her again in the House of Commons on Tuesday, he said: "I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise. I do respect the honourable member." The row centred on language used by Sir Keir to justify , including banning care homes from hiring overseas and tightening the rules to gain settled status. The prime minister said that without a system that is "controlled and fair" the UK risked becoming an "island of strangers", something many MPs by the late Conservative MP Enoch Powell. Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday, Ms Saville Roberts said: "This prime minister once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and for defending free movement. "Now he talks of 'islands of strangers' and 'taking back control'. Somebody here has to call this out. "It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?" Sir Keir hit back: "Yes - the belief that she talks rubbish." Afterwards, Ms Saville Roberts claimed her comment had clearly "struck a nerve" and the expression on the faces of many Labour MPs showed "plenty of them know I was right". Sir Keir's apology came after the Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP raised a question about the , in which she referred to a "recent tendency to dismiss the views of others". Ms Saville Roberts told Sky News that she welcomes the prime minister's remarks adding: "The chamber is a better place for people admitting their mistakes. "The prime minister was noticeably more at ease today discussing improving our relationship with the EU than while delivering his divisive 'nation of strangers' comments. "I reminded him today of his previous comments about the importance of retaining the benefits of the single market. Let's see him now take a step further and commit to restoring those benefits." Downing Street last week defended the "island of strangers" comment, saying Sir Keir had stressed that migrants have made a "massive contribution" to society and he was making a point about controlling the system and integration. However Labour peer Harriet Harman told Sky News' that Sir Keir should have explained his immigration policy to Ms Saville Roberts "I just think to call across the chamber, 'you're rubbish' - I think a prime minister has the opportunity to be a bit more magisterial in that," she said. She said she has "been that woman standing there asking the prime minister a heartfelt and serious question, and had the prime minister say, 'you're rubbish'". Former home secretary also criticised the prime minister saying his response was "unbelievably and unnecessarily rude".
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Prime Minister apologises for ‘overly rude' comment that MP ‘talks rubbish'
The Prime Minister apologised to Liz Saville Roberts at the despatch box on Tuesday, as he took questions about the UK agreement with the European Union. Ms Saville Roberts told the Commons: 'The Prime Minister once argued and we quote, 'we should retain the benefits of the single market'. 'Given his recent tendency to dismiss the views of others, what would he say to his younger self?' Sir Keir replied: 'I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise. 'I do respect the honourable member.' Responding to her question, the Prime Minister described 'red lines' on the single market in Labour's 2024 manifesto and added the Government had 'kept those red lines and delivered a very good deal'. At last week's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Ms Saville Roberts asked Sir Keir about a speech he made to launch the Government's Immigration White Paper. She said Sir Keir 'once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and for defending free movement' but added he now 'talks of 'islands of strangers' and 'taking back control''. Ms Saville Roberts asked: 'It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?' The Prime Minister replied: 'Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.' He also told the Commons: 'I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers, and the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that at risk, and that's why we're fixing the system based on principles of control, selection and fairness.' Launching the Immigration White Paper last week, Sir Keir said in a speech that 'nations depend on rules – fair rules' and added: 'Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.' He said the strategy – including tougher English language requirements and a university degree threshold for skilled worker visa applicants – would help 'take back control' of Britain's borders and 'close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country'.
