Labour MP says Starmer’s ‘island of strangers’ warning over immigration mimics scaremongering of far right – as it happened
The leftwing Labour MP Nadia Whittome has criticised Keir Starmer for saying this morning Britain risked becoming “an island of strangers” without fair immigration controls.(See 9.53am.) She posted these on Bluesky.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.Blaming migrants for a housing crisis and failing public services lets the real culprits off the hook: landlordism, chronic underinvestment and deepening inequality.Labour was elected to tackle those, not parrot Reform’s scapegoating, which will never improve people’s lives.Other leftwingers have said similar things.
This is from Apsana Begum, who was elected as a Labour MP but who is currently suspended over a rebel vote.I’m proud to represent an East London constituency where diversity is a strength —where communities include migrants from all around the world.We must end, not embolden, the hostile environment.I will be voting against the Border Security, Asylum & Immigration Bill this week.And this is from Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who was elected last year as an independent.
The problems in our society are not caused by migrants or refugees.They are caused by an economic system rigged in favour of corporations and billionaires.If the government wanted to improve people’s lives, it would tax the rich and build an economy that works for us all.The UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher immigration policies, Keir Starmer has said, as official estimates show there could be 100,000 fewer migrants every year under new policies outlined on Monday.And here is Peter Walker’s guide to what is in the immigration white paper.
Keir Starmer’s blueprint for curbing immigration could exacerbate skills shortages in sectors that would “fall over” without immigrant labour, the prime minister has been told.Police are investigating after a fire broke out at a home owned by Keir Starmer in north London in the early hours of Monday morning.Ministers wrongly refused nature funding to 3,000 farmers in England when they shut the post-Brexit subsidy scheme, the government has admitted.The Élysée Palace has derided as “disinformation” claims being promoted by Kremlin figures that Emmanuel Macron took cocaine with Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, and Keir Starmer while on a train travelling to Kyiv.For a full list of all the stories covered here today, scroll through the key events timeline at the top of the blog.
Back in the Commons Max Wilkinson (Lib Dem) says that generally he has been impressed by the moderate tone the government has adopted when commenting on cultural issues.So he was “disappointed” to hear Keir Starmer talk about an “island of strangers”.He says MPs will remember the negative impact of Theresa May’s “citizens of nowhere” speech.Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, says the government is trying to embed fairness into the immigration system.Kemi Badenoch has announced a review of what went wrong for the Conservatives in the 2025 local elections.
In an article for ConservativeHome, she says she has asked it to report to her by the end of June.She also uses the article to denounce people writing off her party as “pound-shop commentators and weathervane pundits”.She says:Of course, there are plenty of pound-shop commentators and weathervane pundits ready to write off the Conservative party.But we’ve been here before, and we’ve always come back stronger.I still remember the bad set of local elections in May 2019, swiftly followed by the European elections later that month where we polled just under 9 per cent.
It felt like our time in government was over.Yet Boris pulled out a historic majority that same year.If we are to make this year the point from when we rise again, and the latest case study in the Conservative Party bouncing back from a historic low, then we need to forge a new determination in this time of adversity.In making this argument, Badenoch seems to have forgotten that something important happened to her party between its defeat in the May 2019 local election and its general election victory seven months later; it replaced its leader.Carla Denyer, the Green party co-leader, tells Cooper Keir Starmer’s “island of strangers” speech sounded like something straight out of the Reform UK/Trump playbook.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said that 600 people arrived on England today on small boats, adding “perhaps the odd Iranian terrorist among them”.This prompted protests from MPs to who challenged Farage to provide evidence.Farage went on, saying Cooper should accept that the plan to smash the smuggling gangs had been a “complete and total failure”.Cooper said Farage’s Reform UK party voted against the government’s plans to give the authorities new powers to smash these gangs.John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor who is currently suspended from the parliamentary party over a policy rebellion, criticised Keir Starmer for using “the language of Enoch Powell” today.
(See 3.58pm.) He said this was “shockingly divisive”.Cooper said Starmer was making a point about integration, and the need for migrants to be able to speak English.Later the Labour MP Cat Smith said some of her constituents had been upset by Starmer’s “island of strangers'” comment.
Andrew Murrison (Con) asks about the fair pay agreement for carers promised by the government,Ministers says this will help make care a more attractive option for British workers,He asks if councils will have to get the money to pay carers more from council tax payers, or whether central government will help,Cooper says the 32% increase in the immigration skills charge will help fund skills and training in the UK,James Cleverly says when he was home secretary, he announced changes that would cut immigration by 300,000.
Labour’s will only cut immigration by 100,000, he says.(See 10.09am.) So he asks Yvette Cooper to admit that her policies are only a third as effective as his.“Nice try,” Cooper says in response.
She says Cleverly was in the cabinet that allowed immigration to soar in the first place.The Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, who represents Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, said she was proud to live in a diverse and vibrant community.But she said migrants living in her constituency have been in touch today to asks if the decision to extend the amount if time people have to wait until they can get earned settlement and citizenship (see 3.15pm) would cover people already in the UK, or just new arrivals.Cooper would not say.
She just said further details of this plan would be set out later this year, and she said “there will be plenty of opportunity for people to comment on and consider the detail”.Philp ended his speech by urging the government to back Tory proposals to have an annual cap in immigration, and to exclude immigration cases from the Human Rights Act.In response, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, said she missed the bit in Philp’s speech where he apologised for the Tories’s record.(Of course, there was no apology in Philp’s speech.)Philp claims the immigration white paper is not honest.
He says it starts with Keir Starmer in the foreword saying visa applications are down 40% since the election.But Starmer does not acknowledge that this is a result of Tory policies, he says.Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, is responding to Cooper.He starts by saying he does not think Keir Starmer is genuinely committed to reducing immigration.And he references some of the Starmer proposals in this letter (from 2020), that the Tory MP Nick Timothy reposted earlier today.
Read this signed letter, in which Sir Keir Starmer promises to:- close immigration detention centres- liberalise family reunion- let asylum seekers work- give foreigners the vote(1/2) pic.twitter.com/hgNbfINKIOCooper is wrapping up now.She says Britain has been strengthened by immigration.But he says it needs to be controlled.
On article 8 (see 4.55pm), Cooper says the government will set out new guidelines “to prevent conclusion or perverse conclusions”.Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, is delivering her statement on the immigration white paper.She starts by repeating the claim that the last government was running “a free market experiment on immigration”.And she is now summing up some of the measures in the white paper.
(See 10.24am.)Caroline Nokes, the Commons deputy speaker, reprimanded the government before the start of the immigration white paper statement for releasing details of it to the media before announcing it in parliament.She said the Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, could not understand why the government kept ignoring rules saying announcements must be made to MPs first.Those rules are no longer being respected, she said.
She said Hoyle could be considering what could be done to “regularise the situation”.The immigration white paper says the government will legislate to clarify the circumstances in which people can use article 8 of the European convention on human rights (the right to a family life) to secure the right to stay in the UK when otherwise they would have to leave.The document does not explain in detail how the legislation would work, but it says it would “clarify article 8 rules and set out how they should apply in different immigration routes so that fewer cases are treated as ‘exceptional’, and set out when and how a person can genuinely make a claim on the basis of exceptional circumstances”.The Labour MP Clive Lewis says that could weaken protections for everyone.He has posted these on social media.
Article 8 is a check on state power.A check on authoritarianism.It’s a right the state can only override if it acts lawfully, necessarily, and proportionately.Weakening it for migration cases is a Trojan horse - weakening protections for all of us.1/2Article 8 is the right UK citizens use to:– Challenge the state when their children are taken into care– Stop intrusive surveillance/unlawful data grabs– Protect their homes from arbitrary searches– Keep contact with loved ones in prison– Defend the right to a private and family lifeWater it down for “them” today, and it won’t be there for you tomorrow.
How to make potato salad – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass
This summer classic is the happy proof that not all things labelled as salad have to feel like penance for helping yourself to all the fried chicken or barbecued halloumi. Far fresher and zingier than gloopy, ready-made versions, this is the perfect recipe to make the most of those dense, fudgy early potatoes, and easy to customise according to taste and circumstance.Prep 15 min Cook 15-20 min Serves 4600g waxy potatoes Salt ½ tsp dijon mustard 1 tbsp red-wine vinegar 2 tbsp neutral oil, such as sunflower1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 115g good mayonnaise, ordinary or plant-based (see step 6 for a homemade option)3 spring onions 2 tbsp capers and/or chopped gherkins 2 anchovies (optional)1 small bunch chives 1 handful fresh parsley, leaves and soft stems 1 handful fresh mint leaves1 tbsp wholegrain mustardPotato salad demands a waxy variety, and preferably ones that are new enough that their skins are still flaky and thin, rather than spuds that have been in cold storage for months. Jersey royals are my favourite, but other good (and widely available) options include celandine, ratte, arran, pink fir apple and vivaldi, though farm shops may have even better options on offer.Choose potatoes that are fairly even in size, and preferably small enough easily to boil whole; you may need to cut any larger ones in half to ensure they all cook through in roughly the same time, but try to minimise this, because potatoes cooked whole in their skins will have a better texture
Tea-licious! 17 awesome ways to use earl grey, from ice-cream and cocktails to strudel and salad
Who’d have guessed there’s so much you can do with bergamot-flavoured tea? Apparently you can even drink itAs you may already know, the title of Britain’s Best Loaf 2025 was awarded to a brioche that was flavoured with lemon curd and earl grey tea. The inventor – Miyo Aoetsu, who runs a baking business from her home in Derbyshire – says the loaf was inspired by a recent Japanese trend for foods that combine the flavours of lemon and earl grey. But outside Japan, how many recipes can there be that use earl grey as an ingredient? Here are 17, just for starters.The first, and most basic, is for earl grey itself. The connection between the tea and the 2nd Earl Grey, in whose honour it is sometimes said to have been concocted, is sketchy and possibly nonexistent
Song He Lou, London W1: no neon, no bunting and not much jostling for tourist dollars – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants
The demise of London’s Chinatown has long been predicted, what with recent rent and rate rises, and diners’ changing tastes. Yet on a spring lunchtime last week, business on Wardour Street was booming, with alfresco noodle-slurping, long queues and endless selfie sessions all in full swing.Song He Lou, a historic restaurant brand that champions Suzhou cuisine, clearly believes there are big profits to be made in this postcode, and it has put its money where its mouth is by opening a whopping 144-seater right here in the centre of Chinatown. I’m not chucking in that “historic” willy-nilly, either: Song He Lou was founded in Suzhou near Shanghai almost 270 years ago, during the reign of Emperor Qianglong, and makes Rules in nearby Covent Garden, which is a piffling 227, look like a fly-by-night pop-up.After the best part of three centuries in China, this new London branch is Song He Lou’s first overseas flagship
José Pizarro’s recipe for slow-roast pork belly with spring onion mojo verde
There’s something about its perfect balance of crunch and tenderness that makes roast pork belly such a timeless favourite, and slow-roasting fills the kitchen with comforting aromas that make you hungry long before the meat is anywhere near ready. I like to serve it with mojo verde, a vibrant sauce from the Canaries that’s often served with papas arrugadas, the island’s wonderfully salty and wrinkled take on potatoes. The sauce’s fresh, herby flavour works beautifully with roast meat, too, and brings a bright contrast to rich, crisp pork in particular.Prep 15 min Cook 3 hr 30 min Serves 4-61½kg pork belly (ideally outdoor-reared), skin scored2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp sweet smoked pimentón Salt and black pepper 2 tbsp honey 200ml dry sherry 150ml chicken stock Zest of 1 lemon, pared off in stripsFor the mojo verde1 bunch spring onions, trimmed and finely chopped1 garlic clove, peeled and grated1 green chilli, stalk, pith and seeds discarded, flesh finely chopped100g fresh coriander, finely chopped50g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped2 tbsp sherry vinegar 120ml extra-virgin olive oilHeat the oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 7. Rub the pork belly all over with the olive oil, pimentón and some salt, ensuring they all get right into the scores, then put it in an oven tray and roast for 30 minutes
Helen Goh’s recipe for matcha madeleines | The sweet spot
Delicate, shell-shaped madeleines are always irresistible, but their charm fades quickly, because these little cakes tend to dry out within hours. To counter that, I’ve taken an untraditional turn by incorporating a little oil and milk to keep them soft and spongy for a couple of days. Matcha, the finely ground green tea powder, comes in a range of grades; use the best you can afford, but don’t be tempted to add more for the appealing colour – the sweet, grassy notes can tip into bitterness in an instant.Prep 5 min Chill 2 hr Cook 1 hr Makes 24For the madeleines80g unsalted butter, plus 10g extra, softened, for greasing50ml sunflower oil, or other neutral oil 60ml milk1 tbsp matcha – I use Clearspring150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting1¾ tsp baking powder¼ tsp fine sea salt3 large eggs 140g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extractFor the glaze and topping120g icing sugar, sifted2 tbsp milk ¼ tsp matchaA pinch of salt 40g desiccated coconutMelt the butter in a small saucepan on a low heat. Take off the heat, whisk in the oil, milk and matcha, then set aside to cool
Core principles: the return of ‘real’ cider
“When I started out 10 years ago, only three of the makers here were even in business,” says Felix Nash, gesturing to the reams of golden bottles that line the shelves of his shop. I’m at the Fine Cider Company in London Fields, east London, with its founder, having arrived with the hope of lapping up all that fine cider has to offer inside a neat hour. (Spoiler alert: I leave thirsty and inspired.)Although much of recent cider-making history is defined by mergers and mass-market production, there’s also an exciting re-emergence of terroir-focused production, though that is something Nash claims has always been a part of the UK’s agricultural DNA: “One of the first things the Royal Society ever published was on perry and cider, when John Beale, an early fellow, recognised that an apple variety called redstreak grew particularly well in certain parts of Herefordshire, a concept we now understand as terroir.”These days, much of the UK’s cider production is mass market, which has to be only 35% apple concentrate, and the fruit can come from just about anywhere
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