Starmer Faces Cross-Party Backlash Over ‘Island of Strangers’ Immigration Remarks

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sparked controversy and backlash within his own party and beyond after describing Britain as at risk of becoming an "island of strangers" due to immigration, language critics say closely echoes Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech. Downing Street and Starmer himself have strongly rejected comparisons to Powell, emphasizing that migrants contribute significantly to the country but that migration must be controlled and managed. Starmer's rhetoric appears aimed at countering Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which gained support with a strong anti-immigration stance, though some Labour figures, including Diane Abbott, have condemned the remarks as damaging and shameful. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended Starmer's immigration plan as fundamentally different from Powell's speech and declined to use the "island of strangers" phrase herself, focusing instead on policy discussions. The debate has exposed divisions within Labour and heightened scrutiny on migration policy language, reflecting wider tensions about immigration's economic and social impacts in the UK. London Mayor Sadiq Khan also distanced himself from Starmer's phrasing, illustrating the contentious nature of the prime minister's approach.