Stourbridge Labour MP accused PM of 'pandering to opposition' over 'island of strangers' 'speech
A West Midland Labour MP has challenged the Prime Minisiter's assertion that Britain is in danger of becoming an 'island of strangers'.
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In a speech on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain needed 'strong rules' to control migration.
"Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together," he said.
However, his remarks were immediately compared to those of former Wolverhampton MP Enoch Powell, who was sacked as shadow health secretary in 1968 over a speech in which he predicted a future where white people 'found themselves made strangers in their own country'.
But Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles distanced herself from the Prime Minister's comments, saying they did not reflect her own experiences, and accused him of pandering to the opposition.
"Across the Stourbridge constituency we are not an 'island of strangers'," she said.
"We are families, friends, neighbours and colleagues.
"Last week we commemorated Victory in Europe day and remembered how countries came together to conquer evil and Britain welcomed migrants to help rebuild the country.
"Blaming migrants for our country's problems is simply pandering to the opposition. Broken public services, the housing crisis and huge gaps in equality have been caused by years of austerity, underfunding and political choices."
