Robert Jenrick has claimed the UK is “already an island of strangers” after the prime minister confronted criticism for utilizing that phrase in a speech on migration.
Politics newest: PM underneath fireplace for ‘island of strangers’ phrase
Requested if he agreed with the PM’s language he stated: “I think we already are. I think there are certain places in this country where people are not living side by side, where we are a very divided and segregated society.
“Should you take a look at the centre of Bradford, for instance, 50% of individuals weren’t born within the UK. Should you take a look at the centre of Luton, nearly 50% of individuals solely arrived within the UK within the final 10 years. Should you take a look at components of Dagenham, the white British inhabitants has lowered by 50% within the final 25 years.”
In 2021, 80.1% of Bradford residents reported their nation of start as England in keeping with the ONS, whereas in Luton the determine is 60.3% of the native inhabitants and in Barking and Dagenham it was 58.2%.
In Barking and Dagenham, about 85% of the inhabitants recognized as white in 2001, which fell to 58.3% in 2011 and 44.9% in 2021.
In his speech on Monday asserting a package deal of measures to cut back internet migration, Sir Keir pledged a brand new system that’s “controlled, selective and fair”.
He stated with out the truthful guidelines, “we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together”.
The remark has attracted criticism from inside his personal celebration, together with Labour MP Sarah Owen, who stated it might put the UK on “a very dark path”.
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‘We threat turning into an island of strangers’
The chair of the Ladies and Equalities Choose Committee stated “fair and sensible” checks on immigration “should not equal blaming all the woes of our country on immigrants”.
“The best way to avoid becoming an ‘island of strangers’ is investing in communities to thrive – not pitting people against each other,” she added.
“I’ve said it before and will say it again, chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path.”
Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, additionally stated the phrase mimicked the “scaremongering of the far-right”, whereas former shadow chancellor John McDonnell argued it was paying homage to the late politician Enoch Powell.
House Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the prime minister, mentioning “he also said we are a diverse nation and that he celebrates that”.
She added: “It is possible to both say that we have had huge benefits through generations by people coming, being part of communities, contributing, and also that that will continue to be important in the future, and also say we have a problem with the immigration system and that net migration needs to come down.”
