Latest news with #divisiveLanguage
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Starmer says he regrets using 'island of strangers' phrase
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he regrets saying the UK risked becoming "an island of strangers" in a speech about prime minister was accused by some critics of using divisive language when he made a speech to announce plans to cut immigration in MPs compared Sir Keir's remarks to those made by former MP Enoch Powell in a well-known speech about immigration in the time, Downing Street rejected the comparison and said the PM stood by his words and his view that "migration needs to be controlled". But in an interview with his biographer, Tom Baldwin, Sir Keir said: "I wouldn't have used those words if I had known they were, or even would be interpreted as an echo of Powell."I had no idea – and my speechwriters didn't know either."But that particular phrase – no – it wasn't right. I'll give you the honest truth: I deeply regret using it."The interview was published in the Observer newspaper ahead of Sir Keir's one-year anniversary since becoming prime minister next Keir's comments suggest neither he nor his speechwriters were aware of any similarity to a line in Powell's 1968 that speech, Powell described a future in which Britons "found themselves made strangers in their own country".It is widely known as the Rivers of Blood speech because of Powell's reference to "the River Tiber foaming with much blood", when setting out his fears about immigration. In the Observer interview, Sir Keir said he made the speech on immigration not long after an alleged arson attack on his family home in London."It's fair to say I wasn't in the best state to make a big speech," Sir Keir said. "I was really, really worried."He said his wife Victoria was "really shaken up", adding "it was just a case of reading the words out and getting through it somehow".The Observer article quotes Sir Keir as saying he should have read through the speech properly and "held it up to the light a bit more".Responding to the interview, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the PM's admission of regret at using the phrase was "absolute proof that Keir Starmer has no beliefs, no principles and just reads from a script"."This country needs a leader who has vision," Farage posted. The comparison to Powell was made by John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip last year after rebelling on a welfare in Parliament in May, the independent MP said: "When legislation of this nature is being introduced that is serious and could be contentious, it's critically important that ministers use careful language."When the prime minister referred to... an island of strangers, reflecting the language of Enoch Powell, does she realise how shockingly divisive that could be?"In the same debate, Labour MP Nadia Whittome said immigrants were being "scapegoated for problems that they didn't cause" and that "the rhetoric surrounding this" risked stirring racial MP asked: "Why are we trying to ape Reform, when that will do nothing to improve our constituents' lives and just stoke more division?"Home Secretary Yvette Cooper later defended the language used by Sir said Starmer's speech was "completely different" to Powell's, telling the BBC: "I don't think it's right to make those comparisons."The prime minster said yesterday, I think almost in the same breath, talked about the diverse country that we are and that being part of our strength."I know that everybody always gets caught up in focusing on different phrases and so on, but we do have to be talking about the policies."The launch of the government's immigration plan in May followed local elections in England earlier this month that saw Labour lose the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat to Reform UK.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Welsh First Minister says she will not use ‘divisive language' on immigration
The First Minister of Wales has said she would not use 'divisive language' when asked if she supported the Prime Minister's comments on migration. Baroness Eluned Morgan, the Labour leader of the Welsh Government, was repeatedly asked whether she supported Sir Keir Starmer saying the UK risked becoming an 'island of strangers' if immigration was not reduced. Speaking during First Minister's Questions, she refused to say whether she supported the comments, responding that Wales was a 'welcoming nation'. Sir Keir has faced backlash from critics, including backbench Labour members, with some claiming his comments echoed Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 'rivers of blood' speech – something rejected by his official spokesman. Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, accused the Prime Minister of trying to 'out-Reform Reform' with the comments. He warned that 'another Labour lurch to the right will have potentially serious repercussions', particularly for the care sector in Wales, which relied on immigration. He added: 'Her party leader, the Prime Minister, wants to undermine that for political reasons, even adopting the language of division. 'I ask her to distance herself from that language of division. 'What is her plan now to ensure those reliant on the care sector in Wales aren't punished by her party's latest dog-whistle actions?' Baroness Morgan responded: 'I'm not going to use divisive language when it comes to immigration, that's not the value we have in Welsh Labour. '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.' Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, repeatedly asked the First Minister whether she agreed with the Prime Minister that immigration was 'too high' and agreed the UK was becoming an 'island of strangers'. Baroness Morgan said: 'Wales is a welcoming nation, I think we are very proud to be associated with the positive values that immigration can bring and contribute to our communities and societies and the vast contribution that they make to our public services.' She said she recognised there were concerns about immigration, but insisted levels were quite low in Wales. Speaking after FMQs, Mr Millar accused the First Minister of 'tying herself in knots' over her response to the UK Government's immigration crackdown. 'The truth is that Welsh Labour have proven themselves even weaker than our disingenuous Prime Minister on legal and illegal migration, with Plaid Cymru pushing Labour further from the public on these issues,' he said. Mr ap Iorwerth also criticised the First Minister for refusing to condemn the Prime Minister. He said: 'Of course, we need to prioritise creating the skills within our own workforce, but the general secretary of Unison was also spot-on on Sunday saying that 'the NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who've come to the UK from overseas'. 'Those reliant on the care sector in Wales will reject the Prime Minister's language of division and expect the First Minister to do so too.'
