Diane Abbott says Starmer speech on Britain turning into ‘island of strangers’ is ‘essentially racist’

Diane Abbott as of late labelled Sir Keir Starmer‘s speech about Britain turning into an ‘island of strangers’ as ‘essentially racist’. 

Announcing his immigration white paper ultimate month, the Prime Minister mentioned his new technique would ‘in any case take again regulate of our borders and shut the ebook on a squalid bankruptcy’.

He added: ‘Without [rules], we chance turning into an island of strangers, no longer a country that walks ahead in combination.’

The speech temporarily brought about uproar inside the Labour left, with some likening it to Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech – claims which Sir Keir has since rejected.

The comparability used to be drawn because of the similarity of tone in Mr Powell’s speech in 1968, by which the previous Tory MP mentioned the white inhabitants may transform ‘strangers in their very own nation’ because of long term migration. 

And Ms Abbott, who used to be the first-ever black feminine MP, persisted to stoke the flames towards the Prime Minister as of late when talking at an anti-austerity march in London.

She mentioned: ‘I used to be very disturbed to listen to Keir Starmer with regards to immigration.

‘He mentioned remaining the ebook on a squalid bankruptcy for our politics – immigrants constitute a squalid bankruptcy.

Announcing his immigration white paper ultimate month, the Prime Minister (above) mentioned his new technique would ‘in any case take again regulate of our borders and shut the ebook on a squalid bankruptcy’

The speech temporarily brought about uproar inside the Labour left, with some likening it to Enoch Powell’s (above) ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech – claims which Sir Keir has since rejected

‘He mentioned how he concept immigration has completed incalculable harm to this inexperienced and delightful land, which, in fact, is nonsense – immigrants constructed this land. 

‘And in any case, he mentioned we chance turning into an island of strangers. I believed that used to be a essentially racist factor to mention. It is opposite to Britain’s historical past.

‘My folks got here to this nation within the 50s. They weren’t strangers. They helped to construct this nation.’

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell joined Ms Abbott within the complaint of Sir Keir’s ultimate month, announcing his feedback have been ‘shockingly divisive’ and that it ‘mirrored the language of Enoch Powell’.

Fellow left-winger Zarah Sultana, who like Mr McDonnell additionally has the Labour whip suspended, mentioned that the PM ‘imitating’ Mr Powell’s speech used to be ‘sickening’.

Labour MP Olivia Blake mentioned: ‘Moves to solid migrants as strangers are divisive and adverse.’

A Government supply mentioned Sir Keir had no longer been conscious about a similarity with Mr Powell’s speech, including: ‘It used to be completely no longer a connection with Powell. The PM’s speech used to be in regards to the want for integration.’

Ms Abbott led speeches as of late as demonstrators amassed to march towards the Government’s spending cuts at an tournament organised through The People’s Assembly

Ms Abbott, who has served as an MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, took additional intention at Sir Keir through announcing he used to be imitating Reform UK chief Nigel Farage in a bid to give a boost to his recognition. 

She mentioned: ‘I feel Keir Starmer is moderately incorrect to mention that the way in which that you simply beat Reform is to duplicate Reform.’

Ms Abbott led speeches as of late as demonstrators amassed to march towards the Government’s spending cuts at an tournament organised through The People’s Assembly (TPA).

When selling the march, TPA mentioned ‘Keir Starmer’s govt is making spending cuts that concentrate on the poorest, maximum inclined in society.’ 

The tournament featured representatives from the Green Party, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, the National Education Union and the Revolutionary Communist Party.