Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said the PM rejects comparisons between his migration speech and Enoch Powell’s notorious ‘rivers of blood’ speech after fierce criticism
Keir Starmer has doubled down on his claim that the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” despite a fierce backlash.
The PM’s official spokesman hit back at criticism that his words were similar to notorious Tory racist Enoch Powell. Furious campaigners and Labour backbenchers accused Mr Starmer of using “shameful and dangerous” language.
But the No10 spokesman told reporters: “Absolutely, he stands behind it.” It comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the PM’s controversial remark, which has drawn comparisons with Powell’s 1968 claim that people were becoming “strangers in their own country” because of migration.
His spokesman said he rejects the comparison, stating: “The PM is clear that migrants have made a massive contribution to society over generations. But we can’t shy away from this issue.” And he added: “The British public rightly expect the government to get control of immigration. The previous government lost control.”
Asked if the PM would have used Powell’s words, the No10 aide added: “The PM is using his own words to rightly recognise both the contribution migrants have made over generations and to make the point that uncontrolled migration has been too high. The Government is not going to shy away from this issue.”
Ms Cooper was pressed on the similarity by BBC Today Programme host Nick Robinson. She told him: “I don’t think it’s right to make those comparisons. It’s completely different. And the Prime Minister said yesterday, I think almost in the same breath… talked about the diverse country that we are, and that being part of our strength.”
Asked if the PM’s speech-writers had been aware of the similarity in language, the Home Secretary replied: “I don’t know.” The PM made the comment as he outlined plans expected to cut net migration by around 100,000 a year. It provoked a fierce reaction among Labour MPs and spiky exchanges in the Commons.
Powell’s vile speech in 1968 led to his sacking as shadow defence secretary by then-leader Edward Heath. He lashed out at a “great betrayal” over migration as he voiced his opposition to equality legislation going through Parliament at the time.
Labour backbencher Olivia Blake – who was scathing about the PM’s words in the Commons – told Times Radio: “I think the use of ‘strangers’ was very problematic and I think, or at least I hope, that the people who wrote the speech or were involved in developing the speech had never heard that speech (by Powell) before because if they were trying to rhyme with the rhetoric of that speech I would be exceedingly disappointed.
“But I think 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.” She continued: “I just think it’s so far from the reality that just because you’re not born in a country that you’re a stranger is really problematic and that’s why it was a term used by Enoch Powell. But I do not believe that the prime minister would have been wanting to invoke Enoch Powell but I just hope that it was ignorance.”
Following Mr Starmer’s speech on Monday, Labour MP Nadia Whittome said: “The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous.” She asked in the Commons why Labour is “apeing Reform”.
Meanwhile former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell – who was suspended last year after rebelling over the two-child benefit cap – accused the PM of “reflecting the language” of Enoch Powell’s notoriously racist “rivers of blood” speech in the 1960s.
The Independent MP said: “When the Prime Minister referred to … an island of strangers, reflecting the language of Enoch Powell, does she (Home Secretary Yvette Cooper) realise how shockingly divisive that could be?”
Ms Cooper responded during Monday’s debate: “The point that the Prime Minister has repeatedly made is that we need people to be able to integrate, to be able to be part of our communities, to be able to share with our neighbours, and that does mean being able to speak English.”
And Steve Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Care4Calais said: “This is dangerous language for any prime minister to use. Has Starmer forgotten last year’s far-right riots?
“Shameful language like this will only inflame the fire of the far-right and risks further race riots that endanger survivors of horrors such as war, torture and modern slavery.”