Keir Starmer was accused of hiding what he “really believes” on immigration after setting out policies that contradict his new tough stance. The Prime Minister has now vowed to “reduce immigration significantly”. But a letter from Sir Keir uncovered by a Conservative MP shows that he previously took a completely different stance.
The Prime Minister today claimed that “we risk becoming an island of strangers” but writing in 2020, Sir Keir said: “Britain is economically, culturally and socially richer as a result of immigration. We should celebrate this and the huge contribution migration has made to our country.”
And he said: “I will always defend migrants’ rights and make the positive case for immigration.”
Sir Keir claimed today that cutting migrant numbers would “release pressure on housing and our public services”.
He also said today that high levels of immigration “encourages some businesses to bring in lower-paid workers rather than invest in our young people”.
However he said in the 2020 letter: “We must never accept the Tory or media narrative that often scapegoats and demonises migrants. Problems of low pay, housing and public services are not caused by migrants – they are caused by a failed economic model.”
Sir Keir promised today that his government “will take back control of our borders” – the slogan used by supporters of Brexit during the 2016 EU referendum.
But in the 2020 letter he made it clear that he opposed this policy and instead wanted to keep freedom of movement with the EU, which “take back control” meant ending.
Sir Keir said in 2020: “Free movement has been hugely beneficial – both to the UK and EU. It has allowed millions of EU and UK citizens to live, travel, study and work across the EU.”
He added: “I believe that should be protected as we leave the EU.”
MP Nick Timothy, who published the letter on social media, said: “This is what Keir Starmer really believes.”
The Prime Minister’s tough talk has gone down badly with some Labour MPs. Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, said in a post on the Bluesky social media platform: “The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous.
“Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family. To suggest that Britain risks becoming ‘an island of strangers’ because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right.”
However Sir Keir also admitted today that despite his new policy position, there will be no firm limit on immigration numbers.
Labour will not put a “hard-edged cap” on immigration targets, the Prime Minister has said. He said: “I don’t think it’s sensible to put a hard edged cap on it. That has been done in one form or another for the best part of 10 years by different prime ministers.
“The only thing that links those prime ministers and the various caps or quotas or limits they put in place is – every single one of them failed, and therefore going down the failed route is not a sensible way for me, as with everything that I do, serious, pragmatic, looking at the things that will actually make a material difference.”
