Starmer ‘truly regrets’ his ‘Island of strangers’ immigration statement.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed regret over using the phrase “island of strangers” in a May 12 speech.
- The speech was released before the government released a white paper stating its intention to restrict migration to the UK.
- Starmer’s government announced a U-turn on planned benefits cuts after over 100 MPs from his own Labour Party rebelled.
- Critics criticized Starmer’s speech, drawing similarities to Enoch Powell’s 1968 “rivers of blood” speech.
- Starmer admitted he would not have used the words if he knew they resembled Powell’s.
- The speech came after the Reform U.K. party made significant gains in the local elections.