Sir Keir Starmer’s speech this morning (12/05/25)

I cannot understand targeting people who want to come here and work, it should be stricter, everyone should learn English, if they fail to they are not serious. The times I have wanted to ask for an interpreter on seeing a doctor or health worker, its dangerous, we need to understand each other. Also, if those that want to make their home here, break the law, regardless of children they might have here, which they know give them priviledges, send them back. Why doesn't anyone target the boats, the illegals, no one wants them here, how many we must have hidden, its just ridiculous having so many people who destroy passports etc to get here. They could be criminals.
Starmer does what he does best, as in Covid, he sits on the fence. He might be a good egg, a nice fellow but he is wishy washy. Not a fan of Farage but at least he does what he says he will. Conservatives, very much in the background hopefully getting some sort of act together. Its depressing.
The person I have respect for is Jess Philips, she does what she says she will, a rare virtue these days.

Mr Starmer (Sir? I think not) is going for the low hanging fruit, just like his toxic Chancellor.

Concentrating on targetting those who opt for the recognised legal route into the UK whilst increasing hordes of young men pitch up on the Kent coast, having "lost" their passports, and seem to be given a free pass into the country is an easy way out for Mr Starmer. So he thinks.

He's hammering the legals whilst looking the other way when it comes to the illegals, and it isn't a policy that will repel Reform - quite the reverse.

He thus appears to be doing something whilst actually doing nothing. Smoke and mirrors, eh?

Doodledog I haven't once claimed that the random, unemployed Brits are thick or racist. That's your interpretation.

Let's see what happens when the supply of cheap foreign labour dries up. In theory, if all those foreigners really were stealing jobs, unemployment will reduce drastically.

Further measures are to be discussed on irregular migration later this week. I can understand GNs wanting to bring up all immigration but think it is entirely valid to have a White paper on visa immigration separately.

SaxonGrace

I watched it and just thought it’s the same old BS, I’ve no objection to folk who want to work and assimilate into our country, we have had immigrants for 100s of years including those fleeing wars. What he didn’t mention and for me the biggest problem is the boats landing daily full of young men, who really should be in their own countries helping to build their own societies, instead of leeching on ours.

He didn't mention things that have been previously announced but surely you should educate yourself on the facts if you are interested enough to comment. I put this on another thread so copied it over.

The Labour Party was left to deal with a France that had a law (their country, their laws) that did not allow those policing the coast to enter the water to bring people back to their shore. This meant people could wade out and wait for what was basically a taxi service of boats comimg from further down the coast.

Under the new agreement reached by this government, French coastguards and patrol vessels gain the authority from their government to operate in the water to apprehend or divert boats carrying migrants. They may now facilitate the return or transfer of individuals to shore once intercepted and the agreement strengthens joint patrols and information sharing between French and UK authorities.

This development is yet another of Starmer's small steps to manage migration flows more effectively, reduce dangerous crossings, and enhance border security.

Why do you not know this?

I need an edit button, but I hope that makes enough sense for the gist to get across?

growstuff

Luckygirl3

I think the "visuals" would have been better if his proposals had been accompanied by clearer plans for stopping the trafficking. We have to hope that those plans are brewing behind the scenes.

Caring for vulnerable individuals needs dedication and a caring personality - for the sake of those on the receiving end, it is no good just hoovering in random unemployed Brits.

Of course random unemployed Brits have never had their jobs "stolen" - but it makes a good headline!

I think that's a bit blinkered - sorry.

Random unemployed Brits possibly have lost out to immigrants in the way I haven't, and neither have my friends.

Frankly, I get sick of hearing how people are 'thick' or racist for worrying about wages being lowered because it's possible for someone whose country has an economy where their sending home £500 a month will really help their family, so they are very happy to work for a low wage and sleep in a caravan.

Or how Brexit voters 'don't understand' how students won't be able to go on the Erasmus scheme, or how eating out will become prohibitively expensive now that waiting staff will have to be paid a decent wage. Maybe they don't, because those things don't apply to them. That doesn't make them stupid - it's just that they don't care, in the same way that it doesn't matter any more to them than it would matter to me if the cost membership of the polo club trebled.

The middle classes, by and large, don't live near to asylum hotels, or know anything about trafficking other than what is on Panorama or whatever. Ditto County Lines or numerous other things.

I hope and believe that this government does understand that, but is spectacularly bad at getting the message across.

Luckygirl3

I think the "visuals" would have been better if his proposals had been accompanied by clearer plans for stopping the trafficking. We have to hope that those plans are brewing behind the scenes.

Caring for vulnerable individuals needs dedication and a caring personality - for the sake of those on the receiving end, it is no good just hoovering in random unemployed Brits.

Of course random unemployed Brits have never had their jobs "stolen" - but it makes a good headline!

Galaxy

I am just now relieved we are now apparently permitted to talk about the impact of immigration on society, I am old enough to remember when that was considered 'far right', yesterday I think it was.
Oh and for those asking why we should care about reform voters ( basically those who live in deprived areas) that is why I joined the labour party, the middle class can generally manage very well to get their voices heard.

You've always been permitted to talk about it. I always wondered why people enjoyed claiming they were victims - of what?

GrannyGravy13

Cossy

ladyleftfield
Doodledog

I couldn’t agree more!

Starmer bashing appears to be a national sport!

You can add Farage bashing and Trump bashing.

Any person who is elected to public office is open to ridicule, speculation and criticism. I don’t think it’s going to change anytime soon.

She did it first, Miss. Honest.

I don't think that it was 'Boris Bashing' when the courts found Johnson and Sunak guilty of breaking lockdown rules. Or 'Trump Bashing' to object to his bullying of Zelensky. Or BJ's lying to the Queen, or criticising the 'Eat Out To Help Out' nonsense that cost lives.

Starmer withdrew the universality of the WFP, and will never be allowed to forget it. I really wish he hadn't - not because it made sense, but because he handed his detractors a stick with which to beat him, and boy, have they used it. I've said before on here that the day after the announcement I had lunch with a group of friends. One had just returned from a long holiday in the Algarve, one was talking about her £35k kitchen extension, amongst other obvious declarations or relative privilege. They were both incandescent about the WFP. Furious. £300 wouldn't touch the sides of their recent expenditure, and we each paid £40 for lunch with separate drinks bills. I don't disagree with having it withdrawn from people who can afford things like that (and to say I am not a fan of means-testing is to understate my objection 😂) but my blood pressure rose alarmingly that afternoon, and I was on lime and soda.

The government's Comms team (if they have one) should be sacked. They are hopeless, and I know first year students who could have done better. Even so, the constant sniping and refusal to even listen to what they have to say is wearing, and the repetition of slogans and tabloid phrases ('rabbit in the headlights', 'two-tier Keir' and so on) is frightening. It's like a masterclass in propaganda and how easily people can be duped.

I think the "visuals" would have been better if his proposals had been accompanied by clearer plans for stopping the trafficking. We have to hope that those plans are brewing behind the scenes.

Caring for vulnerable individuals needs dedication and a caring personality - for the sake of those on the receiving end, it is no good just hoovering in random unemployed Brits.

Casdon

I’ve been saying for years on Gransnet that if the population of the UK is to stabilise, legal migration needs to be significantly reduced, and that people put far more emphasis on illegal migration than it warrants in comparison - the solution is not the same, and is much harder to resolve. I’m still whistling in the wind though it would seem from what people are saying on this thread.

I hear the whistling .

They still have an asylum seeking process, as we do. It's to do with deportation of those who have been refused but stayed, or who are in the country having crossed land borders secretly and never registered. I dont know how our figures compare.

Sweden are changing things.

No reason we cant do the same here.

www.government.se/government-policy/the-governments-priorities/migration-and-integration/

I’ve been saying for years on Gransnet that if the population of the UK is to stabilise, legal migration needs to be significantly reduced, and that people put far more emphasis on illegal migration than it warrants in comparison - the solution is not the same, and is much harder to resolve. I’m still whistling in the wind though it would seem from what people are saying on this thread.

I am just now relieved we are now apparently permitted to talk about the impact of immigration on society, I am old enough to remember when that was considered 'far right', yesterday I think it was.
Oh and for those asking why we should care about reform voters ( basically those who live in deprived areas) that is why I joined the labour party, the middle class can generally manage very well to get their voices heard.

There have already been a number of announcements about how boat migration is being tackled. It’s a complex issue, which requires work across Europe, and there are no easy solutions. If there were, they would have happened under the last government. We all know this. I don’t understand why people keep pretending it can be sorted out with a Farage solution - they must know it can’t, including him, which is why he never provides any detail on what his plans actually are.

wendyann23

The biggest problem is he has said nothing about illegal immigrants/asylum seekers coming over on the boats. May only be a small proportion of immigrants but they make the headlines and are the ones most people feel strongly about, not those that come over here to work legally.

Hear hear.

I dont know what Starmer is doing.
Hoping most people dont notice?
He needs to massively up his game.
As do lots of politicians.
They cannot rest on their laurels any longer.
Well if they do, it is at their peril.

Since immigration by boat is not alledgedly mentioned, it further adds to the ever bigger question of, why?

Voters notice nowadays what is happening and not happening.
Was at a burger van type place in an industrial estate this afternoon.
Immigration was the topic of conversation amongst the van owners and the customers.

I think gone are the times when "the working man" routinely "just" voted Labour.
Immigration[in particular illegal immigration] is a constant hot topic.
The issue is not going anywhere if it is not properly handled.

Yes, they have targets, but they also have the choice as to where they build. Infill seems to be the preferred option where I am, rather than ribbon developments.

A few years ago, local councils were each being given targets by central govt

GrannyGravy13

Cossy

ladyleftfield
Doodledog

I couldn’t agree more!

Starmer bashing appears to be a national sport!

You can add Farage bashing and Trump bashing.

Any person who is elected to public office is open to ridicule, speculation and criticism. I don’t think it’s going to change anytime soon.

I think there is a difference in the way the media supports/attacks each of them to be honest. The moguls who own major media companies dictate a party line which serves their own interests.

Allira

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

This current government haven’t a cat in hells chance of building the houses they promised in their manifesto and since the election.

There is a U.K. wide shortage of all trades relating to the building industry.

I am not sure that there are enough incentives to entice the current cohort of NEETS into the care sector.

I am not sure how the current white paper will address these issues…

Oh! I don't know! 5,000 new houses are being built just a few miles from me - the roads infrastructure is nearly ready. Plans have been submitted for a further 14,000. Some have already been bought off plan.

You mean they've built infrastructure? That's how it should be!

Here they seem to build houses on greenfield sites, brownfield sites without a care about how all the traffic will enter or exit the areas, thousands of new homes without a thought of how the increased traffic will affect the town. Public transport is not good.

As things stand at the moment, it’s the local council which approves planning applications though?

”I’m finding it difficult to participate. I’m Labour Party member. I voted for Starmer and have absolutely no regret about my choice. He was good at the CPS. He has always championed the needs of women and children. He understands what good public service is and wants to do something to redress the devastation caused by YES by 14 dreadful years. I believe he gets it. I’m watching ch4 news where Corbyn I’d being interviewed then Farrage shown in Parliament. Starmer remains the grown up in the room”

Well said Iam64.

I’ve also just watched C4 news.

To Corbyn I would say ‘you had two opportunities to win a GE … and you didn’t. Be man enough to accept that’.

To Tice I would say ‘how would you fund raising the tax threshold to £20k. HOW - just explain HOW???’

To C4 I would say ‘why didn’t you ask Tice the above question? Why are you giving Reform so much air time?’

The media in this country is so biased against Labour it is sickening.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

This current government haven’t a cat in hells chance of building the houses they promised in their manifesto and since the election.

There is a U.K. wide shortage of all trades relating to the building industry.

I am not sure that there are enough incentives to entice the current cohort of NEETS into the care sector.

I am not sure how the current white paper will address these issues…

Oh! I don't know! 5,000 new houses are being built just a few miles from me - the roads infrastructure is nearly ready. Plans have been submitted for a further 14,000. Some have already been bought off plan.

You mean they've built infrastructure? That's how it should be!

Here they seem to build houses on greenfield sites, brownfield sites without a care about how all the traffic will enter or exit the areas, thousands of new homes without a thought of how the increased traffic will affect the town. Public transport is not good.

Cossy

GrannyGravy13

Just reread my post looks like I am not sure about most things 😹

😂😂😂😂 Aren’t we all

I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite sure
😀

#floatingvoter