Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was not right to make comparisons between Keir Starmer’s remarks and Enoch Powell’s racist ‘river of blood speech’ in an exchange with the BBC’s Nick Robinson
Yvette Cooper has defended Keir Starmer against claims his language on immigration echoed Enoch Powell’s notoriously racist ‘rivers of blood’ speech.
The Home Secretary was pressed over Mr Starmer’s claim that the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers”, which has sparked a furious backlash. The remark has been likened to words in Powell’s infamous speech, in which he said people could find themselves “strangers in their own country” as a result of migration.
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.
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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.”
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