Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts of talking rubbish during a heated Prime Minister’s Questions. The clash came after Roberts criticised Starmer’s new immigration policies and questioned his political consistency, suggesting that he was merely talking rubbish.
Starmer responded sharply to her claim that he frequently changes beliefs. “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish,” he told the House of Commons, sparking reactions from MPs across the chamber.
The dispute follows Starmer’s announcement of major immigration reforms. On Monday, he unveiled measures to ban overseas recruitment for care jobs and raise visa costs for employers. He promised these actions would significantly reduce net migration over four years. Critics, however, claimed that these promises were nothing but talking rubbish in their view.
Starmer warned that without strong rules, the UK risks becoming “an island of strangers,” a phrase some might argue borders on talking rubbish. He argued the country needs a system built on control, fairness, and selection.
In Wales, First Minister Eluned Morgan declined to support the “island of strangers” phrase. She called for more careful, less divisive language around migration, arguing that incendiary rhetoric can sometimes sound like talking rubbish.
Some Labour MPs also criticised Starmer’s wording, calling it unhelpful and alienating. They questioned whether the Prime Minister’s rhetoric aligns with Labour values or if it simply amounts to talking rubbish.
Roberts pressed Starmer during the Commons session. She accused him of abandoning past support for free movement and compassion for migrants. “Is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?” she asked, implying he might be talking rubbish.
Starmer repeated that she talks rubbish, then defended his position. He said he aims to lead a country where people move forward as neighbours, not strangers. He blamed the previous government for the loss of migration control and insisted his reforms would restore fairness.
After the exchange, Saville Roberts claimed Starmer’s reaction showed her point “struck a nerve.” She noted that some Labour MPs appeared uncomfortable during the clash, perhaps concerned about talking rubbish.
She argued that Labour’s declining support in Wales reflects the Prime Minister’s inconsistent leadership. “If his convictions change with the political weather,” she warned, “voters will turn elsewhere.”
Eluned Morgan voiced concerns about the policy’s impact on social care. She warned that tighter rules may worsen hospital delays due to staff shortages in the care sector, highlighting areas where some believe there’s talking rubbish.
For more updates, visit London Pulse News, where the conversation might range from policy critiques to accusations of talking rubbish.
