UK politics live: Starmer warned he is ‘laying the groundwork for Farage’ after immigration speech
‘Migration will fall, that’s a promise’ Keir Starmer announces stricter immigration rulesA Labour MP has warned Sir Keir Starmer is “laying the groundwork for Nigel Farage” with his language on migration on Monday.Speaking to The Independent, Clive Lewis said the prime minister’s comments about an “island of strangers” risked “legitimising Reform’s worldview and giving it a home in the political mainstream”.He said: “Once legitimised, he – and those like him – will feel emboldened to go even further.”The prime minister gave a speech in Downing Street on Monday morning to announce that every area of the UK’s “broken” immigration system will be tightened.Refugee charity Care4Calais accused Starmer of fanning the fire of the far-right by using language like “an island of strangers” to discuss immigration.“This is dangerous language for any Prime Minister to use,” Care4Calais CEO, Steve Smith, said, adding that he should apologise.Under the new white paper proposals, migrants will be told they must learn English and “earn the privilege” to live in the UK.Migrants will also be told they need to spend a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and English language requirements will be increasedStarmer ‘laying the groundwork for Farage’, Labour MP warnsA Labour MP has warned Sir Keir Starmer is “laying the groundwork for Nigel Farage” with his language on migration on Monday.Speaking to The Independent, Clive Lewis said the prime minister’s comments about a “land of strangers” risked “legitimising Reform’s worldview and giving it a home in the political mainstream”.He said: “Once legitimised, he – and those like him – will feel emboldened to go even further.“At its heart, this is about pride, hubris, and a refusal by those in charge to admit that their strategy has backfired. We are now in crisis mode.“Nobody on the progressive left is against a serious, balanced approach to immigration – one that meets our economic needs, fills gaps in care, supports universities, and treats people with dignity. But that has to be paired with real action to make this country better – for everyone.”( More