The PM faces island of strangers backlash after describing the UK as at risk of becoming an “island of strangers” without tighter immigration controls. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the remarks amid internal party criticism and public debate.
Speaking after Sir Keir Starmer’s speech, Cooper insisted the prime minister aimed to support integration, not fuel division. The backlash against the PM faces an uncertain future as discussions about policies continue. She said the focus was on English language requirements and managing migration impacts.
Some Labour MPs, including John McDonnell, objected to the language. McDonnell likened it to Enoch Powell’s infamous “Rivers of Blood” speech. He warned such rhetoric could be “shockingly divisive” and harm social cohesion.
Cooper dismissed those claims. She said comparisons to Powell’s speech were unfair and misleading. She stressed Starmer also praised the UK’s diversity in the same speech, although the PM’s approach has its share of critics on the “island of strangers” notion.
During interviews, Cooper urged focus on policy rather than isolated phrases. She said the speech aimed to address migration pressures while maintaining support for diverse communities, despite facing backlash from those opposed to the “island of strangers” concept.
Asked if the language was toxic, Cooper responded firmly. She said the prime minister had been right to call for change amidst the growing island of strangers debate and dismissed concerns of inflammatory speech.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan took a more cautious view. He said he understood the speech’s context but would not have used the term “island of strangers” himself. He emphasized using different language when discussing migration issues related to the PM’s controversial stance.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick supported Starmer’s phrasing. He argued that parts of the country already felt like “islands of strangers.” He claimed the phrase accurately reflected real concerns in local communities facing backlash over immigration.
Other Labour voices, including Nadia Whittome, expressed unease. Whittome said immigrants were being blamed unfairly and warned against imitating Reform UK rhetoric, which fueled the backlash surrounding the island of strangers terminology.
Starmer’s comments followed local election results that saw Labour lose ground to Reform UK. The party gained council seats and metro mayors, campaigning hard on immigration and amplifying the backlash narrative as the UK faces the island of strangers reality.
Critics argue the speech marks a shift in Labour’s tone on migration. Jenrick accused Starmer of abandoning earlier pro-migration stances to win votes and formulating an “island of strangers” scenario that faces growing backlash.
Despite the backlash, the prime minister stands by his remarks. Cooper affirmed full support for his message and its policy intentions as they navigate the contentious “island of strangers” debate.
The PM faces island of strangers backlash as public debate continues. Party members, rivals, and the public remain divided on how the UK should talk about and manage migration amidst the ongoing backlash sparked by the island of strangers concept.
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