Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced a backlash after delivering a speech on immigration in which he warned the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tough new policies. The rhetoric was likened by some MPs to the language of Enoch Powell, whose notorious “rivers of blood” speech in 1968 warned of a future where white Britons became strangers in their own country.
Starmer defended his plans to curb net migration, insisting that migrants must “learn the language and integrate”. He said: “Britain is an inclusive and tolerant country, but the public expect that people who come here should be expected to learn the language and integrate.” The prime minister rejected accusations that he had adopted Powell’s rhetoric, telling the Guardian: “Migrants make a massive contribution to the UK, and I would never denigrate that.”
Independent MP Zarah Sultana wrote on X that Starmer had “imitated” Powell’s speech, which fuelled decades of racism. Green leadership candidate Zack Polanski also noted similarities, posting on Bluesky: “Not even subtle.” Labour MP Sarah Owen warned that “chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path”.
Starmer’s speech came ahead of a 69-page immigration white paper outlining restrictions on visas and new English language tests. A Home Office assessment suggests the measures could reduce net migration by about 100,000, potentially bringing it down to 300,000 by 2029. Net migration stood at 728,000 in the year to June 2024, down from over 900,000 under the previous Conservative government.
Starmer argued the current system “encourages some businesses to bring in lower-paid workers rather than invest in our young people”. However, critics from across the political spectrum accused the prime minister of pandering to the populist right and fuelling anti-migrant rhetoric.
