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Downing Road has rejected ideas that Sir Keir Starmer was channelling related language to that of former right-wing Tory politician Enoch Powell when the prime minister gave a speech on Monday calling for a lot more durable controls on immigration.
The Labour prime minister precipitated consternation amongst many left-wing MPs when he mentioned that “we threat turning into an island of strangers” with out new guidelines to curb the “squalid chapter” of rising migration.
Critics identified that his phrases carried echoes of these utilized by Powell in his controversial “rivers of blood” speech in 1968, during which he warned of a future the place white individuals “discovered themselves made strangers in their very own nation”.
Requested about Powell, a Downing Road spokesperson mentioned that Starmer would “reject in its entirety the earlier speeches made by that particular person”.
He added: “The prime minister rejects these comparisons and completely stands behind the argument he was making that migrants make an enormous contribution to our nation, however migration must be managed and must be truthful.”
The spokesperson mentioned it was clear that voters needed ministers to chop internet migration figures, which had “quadrupled” to document highs throughout the earlier 4 years of the final Conservative authorities, placing strain on housing and different public providers.
“The British public rightly expects the federal government to get management of immigration in a means that the earlier authorities misplaced management of immigration . . . and be certain that we’ve acquired a system based mostly on equity and management and get down the sky-high ranges of immigration that we noticed underneath the earlier authorities,” he mentioned.
Downing Road’s intervention got here after a number of senior Labour figures had criticised Starmer’s language.
Sarah Owen, the Labour chair of the Home of Commons girls and equalities committee, who’s of Malaysian-Chinese language heritage, mentioned: “Chasing the tail of the precise dangers taking our nation down a really darkish path. The easiest way to keep away from turning into an ‘island of strangers’ is investing in communities to thrive, not pitting individuals towards one another.”
Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, mentioned he wouldn’t have used the phrase “island of strangers”. He advised LBC: “The form of language I exploit is totally different to the language utilized by others. That’s not the form of phrases I might use.”
Requested earlier within the day if Starmer had echoed Powell’s phrases, dwelling secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned the phrasing was “fully totally different” given the prime minister’s general backing for immigration.
“I don’t suppose it’s proper to make these comparisons, I feel it’s fully totally different,” she advised BBC Radio 4’s At this time programme.
“The prime minister mentioned yesterday, I feel virtually in the identical breath, he talked concerning the various nation that we’re and that being a part of our energy. However he additionally talked about how immigration needs to be correctly managed and managed, and it hasn’t been. I really suppose it’s OK to have each these views.”
Insurance policies within the immigration paper together with elevating the requirements of English language required for all visas, growing the time it takes for a lot of candidates to realize citizenship from 5 years to 10, and lift international staff’ abilities necessities to diploma stage exterior of a number of key industries with main abilities shortages.
