Starmer rejects comparisons to Powell amid new migration proposals

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer has firmly denied any parallels between his recent remarks on immigration and Enoch Powell’s notorious “Rivers of Blood” speech. During a press conference on Monday, Starmer warned that the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers” if migration is not curbed. Critics noted the phrase’s resemblance to Powell’s 1968 assertion that Britons were becoming “strangers in their own country”. However, Downing Street clarified that the prime minister “completely rejects” such comparisons and fully stands by his statement.

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A government spokesperson reinforced the message, stating that migration levels are “too high and must come down”, while also promising increased investment in domestic skills training and workforce development. Starmer’s use of the phrase “incalculable damage” to describe the current impact of immigration has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declined to confirm whether she would have used similar language and claimed she had not been aware of Starmer’s specific choice of words beforehand.

Prominent figures including Scottish Care CEO Donald Macaskill and Labour’s own MPs John McDonnell and Olivia Blake have expressed concern over the tone of the speech. Macaskill said Starmer’s rhetoric had “echoes of Powell at his worst”, while Blake warned the comments could legitimise far-right sentiment. Despite internal and external criticism, the Labour leadership appears committed to pressing ahead with a more restrictive immigration agenda.

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The proposals outlined in the forthcoming white paper, Restoring Control Over the Immigration System, include raising the residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years, with fast-tracked routes for those making exceptional contributions to the economy or society. Additional measures include English-language requirements for all visa applicants, limits on overseas recruitment in the care sector, and tighter conditions for skilled worker visas. Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, remarked that Starmer seemed to be “listening and learning” from opposition parties.