Sir Keir Starmer’s “island of strangers” remark is not anti-migrant, the minister for migration and citizenship has said, amid backlash from charities and backbenchers.
Seema Malhotra said the PM meant Britain risked becoming a country where communities “live side by side” without “common ties that bind us together”.
These remarks sparked fury among Starmer’s online critics – and even drew comparisons to former Tory shadow defence secretary Enoch Powell’s infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech from 1968.
Refugee charity Care4Calais accused Starmer of fanning the fire of the far-right by using language like “an island of strangers” to discuss immigration.
“This is dangerous language for any Prime Minister to use,” Care4Calais CEO, Steve Smith, said, adding that he should apologise.
It also drew comparisons to Theresa May’s claim in 2016 that, “If you believe you are a citizen of the world, you are a citizen of nowhere. You don’t understand what citizenship means.”
Zarah Sultana
Sultana wrote: “The Prime Minister imitating Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech is sickening. That speech fuelled decades of racism and division. Echoing it today is a disgrace. It adds to anti-migrant rhetoric that puts lives at risk. Shame on you, Keir Starmer.”
Nadia Whittome wrote: “The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous. Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family. To suggest that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers” because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right.”
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Music star Tanita Tikaram wrote: “Is Starmer competing with Enoch Powell’s rivers of blood speech ? ‘ Island of Strangers’ ? Is this what 10 months in powers has reduced him to ? Instead of redistributing wealth & fighting corruption he’s become a shameful mouthpiece for obscene wealth & inequality.”
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Related: ‘Crushing blow:’ As Starmer tackles migration these arguments have been ignored
