by .webp)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed regret for describing the UK as at risk of becoming "an island of strangers" in a May speech on immigration, following criticism for echoing divisive rhetoric. The comments, made during the announcement of plans to reduce immigration, drew comparisons to former MP Enoch Powell’s controversial 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech, in which he warned of Britons becoming "strangers in their own country."
In an interview with biographer Tom Baldwin, published in *The Observer* ahead of his one-year anniversary as prime minister, Starmer admitted he was unaware of the similarity to Powell’s language. "I wouldn’t have used those words if I had known they were, or even would be interpreted as an echo of Powell," he said. "I deeply regret using it." He added that neither he nor his speechwriters recognised the potential connotations, and he should have scrutinised the speech more thoroughly.
The remarks have sparked anger among some of Starmer’s allies, with one senior government source describing them as "outrageous" and "weak." Critics within his circle accused him of lacking "moral fibre" and throwing aides "under a bus." The speech followed an alleged arson attack on Starmer’s family home, which he said left him and his wife, Victoria, shaken, affecting his state of mind at the time.
The phrase drew criticism from MPs, including independent John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip last year, and Labour MP Nadia Whittome, who warned it risked stoking division and scapegoating immigrants. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended Starmer, insisting his speech was "completely different" from Powell’s and highlighted the UK’s diversity as a strength.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage seized on the apology, claiming it showed Starmer "has no beliefs, no principles and just reads from a script." The controversy follows Labour’s loss of the Runcorn and Helsby seat to Reform UK in local elections, underscoring immigration as a contentious issue.
Starmer’s immigration plan, unveiled in May, promised tighter visa rules to reduce migration, but his recent comments signal a shift in tone as he reflects on his first year in office.
