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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Starmer is utterly reprehensible

1000 replies

Thegreyhound · 12/05/2025 20:31

I know everyone will disagree, that’s ok- But I just have to say that Starmer today seems to have sunk lower than I ever believed he would with his incendiary ‘island of strangers’ and ‘incalculable damage’ rhetoric.
I find it particularly shocking because he has calculated this and decided it’s worth it to throw immigrants under the bus and essentially give all the ground in the debate to Farage, Tommy Robinson and Enoch Powell types.
Policy can be altered without making statements that are designed to impact race relations and make life even more difficult for people who are just trying to get along and make a living here.
Starmer is vile. This country does indeed feel like an island of strangers these days but the strangers are not the immigrants :(

OP posts:
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DonkeyDumpling · 12/05/2025 20:36

This country does indeed feel like an island of strangers these days but the strangers are not the immigrants :(

I take it you don’t live in an area with a lots of immigrants who don’t speak English and make no attempt to integrate?

Starmer’s a prick but not for the reasons you’ve stated.

HellsBalls · 12/05/2025 20:52

Sounds like Starmer has finally realized what the next election will be won or lost over.

UseNailOil · 12/05/2025 20:57

HellsBalls · 12/05/2025 20:52

Sounds like Starmer has finally realized what the next election will be won or lost over.

The capital-centric liberal elite are working out what most people think.

Tootyfilou · 12/05/2025 20:59

Dog whistle racism. He is disgusting.

EasternStandard · 12/05/2025 21:00

Agree he is.

Notabikerchick · 12/05/2025 21:01

UseNailOil · 12/05/2025 20:57

The capital-centric liberal elite are working out what most people think.

This.

Ablondiebutagoody · 12/05/2025 21:01

Pound shop Farage

HeatonGrov · 12/05/2025 21:02

Visit Bradford.

Simplynotsimple · 12/05/2025 21:03

Tootyfilou · 12/05/2025 20:59

Dog whistle racism. He is disgusting.

And xenophobia. Lumping in the UK with English like we weren’t a diverse people regardless of immigration. If he wants to go down the English for the English’ route then that’s his shit shovel hole to dig, don’t bring the rest of us in with him.

Nant90 · 12/05/2025 21:03

Very depressing speech. I have been supporting Labour and feeling they are doing their best with the shitstorm they were left with, but today's speech left me cold. Feels like fucking frog-face might as well have won the election if this is the direction we are going in. How depressing.

CallMeMabel · 12/05/2025 21:24

I agree, he's repugnant. Believes in nothing but will hitch to any old bandwagon, no matter how vile or immoral, to hold on power.

TempestTost · 12/05/2025 21:25

Generally - I don't think he's vile. I don't think he is an amazing leader, or an idea man, or a visionary. And I think all governments now are in a very difficult position.

As far as immigration - no, I don't think he is throwing immigrants "under the bus". His fundamental duty of care is to citizens and permanent residents of the UK, and the economy and social fabric of the nation. People in other nations have governments with a similar duty of care to do what's best for the people there.

Immigration can have positive elements and there have always been some people who immigrate. But we don't live in a time where people drop a bunch of people off the boat and they need to make it or sink with no state support. You cannot have a social welfare state with unlimited immigration. It's not a viable model.

For the last 30 years or more all we have heard from big business and liberal political types is that immigration is a positive economically socially and economically. That is because easy movement of labour favours big business, the wealthy, and the professional middle classes. Working class people who objected to this and pointed out it certainly wasn't good for them were dismissed as bigots - a massive betrayal of them by the Labour Party.

And yet now we know they were right all along - even central banks and the WEF have acknowledged that immigration is not all equal, that it can cost the economy more than those workers generate, that it affects wages for the working classes, that it affects the housing and rental market and also contributes to housing problems - not to mention the draws on health care and education.

So no - I don't think the leader of the Labour Party, actually having some balls to stand up for left wing labour principles, is vile. Though it took him long enough to get there, that's for sure.

TempestTost · 12/05/2025 21:28

I imagine he also has his eye on some of the Scadinavian countries where the left managed to turn their fortunes around after becoming more hard nosed about immigration.

Keirawr · 12/05/2025 21:31

What did he say that’s wrong? Or is this your good deed of the day to signal a few virtues, spread the ‘be kind’ vibes to feel good and righteous.

Thegreyhound · 12/05/2025 21:32

DonkeyDumpling · 12/05/2025 20:36

This country does indeed feel like an island of strangers these days but the strangers are not the immigrants :(

I take it you don’t live in an area with a lots of immigrants who don’t speak English and make no attempt to integrate?

Starmer’s a prick but not for the reasons you’ve stated.

Define ‘lots of’- bit vague

OP posts:
Keirawr · 12/05/2025 21:33

Thegreyhound · 12/05/2025 21:32

Define ‘lots of’- bit vague

Do you live under a rock? Or Martha’s Vineyard? So out of touch and living in a bubble.

OrwellianTimes · 12/05/2025 21:34

He’s alienated all the native Welsh speakers. Teapot racist.

Utter jellyfish.

Screamingabdabz · 12/05/2025 21:34

I wonder if the people who immediately shout ‘racist’ any time anyone mentions immigration actually live in areas where there are large numbers of low skilled non-English speaking newly arrived people?

HeatonGrov · 12/05/2025 21:34

Visit Manningham or Heaton in Bradford.

Ottersmith · 12/05/2025 21:34

TempestTost · 12/05/2025 21:25

Generally - I don't think he's vile. I don't think he is an amazing leader, or an idea man, or a visionary. And I think all governments now are in a very difficult position.

As far as immigration - no, I don't think he is throwing immigrants "under the bus". His fundamental duty of care is to citizens and permanent residents of the UK, and the economy and social fabric of the nation. People in other nations have governments with a similar duty of care to do what's best for the people there.

Immigration can have positive elements and there have always been some people who immigrate. But we don't live in a time where people drop a bunch of people off the boat and they need to make it or sink with no state support. You cannot have a social welfare state with unlimited immigration. It's not a viable model.

For the last 30 years or more all we have heard from big business and liberal political types is that immigration is a positive economically socially and economically. That is because easy movement of labour favours big business, the wealthy, and the professional middle classes. Working class people who objected to this and pointed out it certainly wasn't good for them were dismissed as bigots - a massive betrayal of them by the Labour Party.

And yet now we know they were right all along - even central banks and the WEF have acknowledged that immigration is not all equal, that it can cost the economy more than those workers generate, that it affects wages for the working classes, that it affects the housing and rental market and also contributes to housing problems - not to mention the draws on health care and education.

So no - I don't think the leader of the Labour Party, actually having some balls to stand up for left wing labour principles, is vile. Though it took him long enough to get there, that's for sure.

Well I'm a British citizen and I can't return to my own Country with with British child because I married a foreigner and the visa laws are too strict. My child is growing up without his Grandparents and Aunties. People who go on about immigration have no idea how harsh it is. It breaks families up.

EggandStress · 12/05/2025 21:35

Tootyfilou · 12/05/2025 20:59

Dog whistle racism. He is disgusting.

Totally agree. So glad I left the Labour Party when I did.

Thegreyhound · 12/05/2025 21:35

Keirawr · 12/05/2025 21:31

What did he say that’s wrong? Or is this your good deed of the day to signal a few virtues, spread the ‘be kind’ vibes to feel good and righteous.

I’ve explained what he said that was wrong. He didn’t need to go to inflammatory and divisive rhetoric that fans the flames of the far right instead of dampening them down

There are plenty of changes he could make regarding all elements of immigration but without the language chosen and the big fanfare would have been better.

I’m also not virtue signalling, just saying I can’t bear the man

OP posts:
footpath · 12/05/2025 21:35

What should he do? Millions do want immigration reduced

Cleo65 · 12/05/2025 21:35

Basically - he's going to shaft the ones wanting to come to this country legally & carry on rolling out the red carpet for those coming in illegally....
Or did I miss something??

Twinstudy · 12/05/2025 21:35

HeatonGrov · 12/05/2025 21:02

Visit Bradford.

I live in Bradford. What's your point?

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