Downing Street is being compared to the rhetoric of Enoch Powell, and while the Prime Minister refrains from making a direct link, he staunchly defends Keir Starmer’s comments on immigration, asserting they’re “not embarrassing” given his candid approach to the issues.
This sentiment comes in the wake of lawmakers criticizing the Prime Minister’s focus when he unveiled a new immigration policy paper on Monday. He notably warned that Britain risks reflecting the divisive language used by Powell in his notorious 1968 “Blood River” speech.
When questioned about the backlash on Tuesday, London Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that he does not use such phrases and advocated for a broad prioritization approach.
Alf Dubs, a fellow Labour member who arrived in the UK as a child refugee fleeing the Nazis, also expressed concern. He remarked, “I’m troubled by senior politicians using language reminiscent of Powell. I regret that Keir Starmer employed some of those terms,” and suggested that it might not truly reflect Starmer’s core beliefs.
Welsh Labour leader, Morgan, when asked about Starmer’s words, commented, “I’m not going to employ divisive language regarding immigration. That’s not representative of Welsh Labour’s values.”
Sources from Downing Street challenged lawmakers’ critiques of Starmer’s address, claiming the Conservatives’ immigration policies have caused “immense” harm to the country.
“Firm language and strict policies are essential to tackle hard issues,” they asserted. “The Tories left the situation unmanaged, leading to a million newcomers in a year. Voters expect us to take control, and we won’t apologize for it.”
Khan elaborated, saying, “My language differs from what others use. It’s not similar to theirs.” He suggested that discussions about “Brexiteers’ promises” and recent high migration levels might be misrepresented, instead focusing on “contributions to this multicultural capital and country.”
On Monday, various Labour lawmakers, including Sarah Owen, chair of the Women and Equality Committee, expressed concern that “we might head down a very dark path if we don’t reconsider our approach.”
Zara Sultana, a former Labour MP now independent, termed the rhetoric “stigma,” emphasizing it echoed Powell’s divisive language.
An official spokesperson for the Prime Minister refuted comparisons of his comment about the “stranger island” to Powell’s claim that Britons could become “strangers in their own country.”
“We utterly reject this comparison,” he stated. “The Prime Minister acknowledged in his speech that immigration has significantly benefited our nation.” He noted that past administrations mishandled immigration control, particularly between 2019 and 2024, when levels surged.
“We must address this issue, as British citizens expect the government to manage immigration effectively,” he added, emphasizing the necessity to reduce current immigration levels.
Reflecting on the term “Stranger Island,” the spokesperson conceded, “Yes,” affirming that the Prime Minister’s words recognized the generational contributions of immigrants, while also pointing out the need for better migration control.
The spokesperson criticized Powell, stating that the Prime Minister rejects the entire ideology presented by Powell during his era.
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper voiced that the Prime Minister’s words were “entirely different.” She expressed on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, “It’s incorrect to draw these parallels. The Prime Minister acknowledged our diversity as a strength in the same breath he mentioned the contributions of those who came to work in Britain after the war and have been vital to our services.”
