Starmer accused of ‘ugly, damaging and disgraceful rhetoric’ on immigration

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of using “ugly, damaging and disgraceful rhetoric” on immigration by a Scottish minister.

External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson will lead a debate in Holyrood on Thursday about Scotland’s place in Europe, and ahead of the session he hit out at the Prime Minister’s speech on Monday in which he announced changes to the immigration system.

Under the reforms, care worker visas for overseas recruitment will end, while there will be stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students, and a reduction in the amount of time graduates can spend in the UK after their studies.

External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson will lead a debate on Europe on Thursday (Andy Buchanan/P)A PA Media

The Prime Minister has been criticised for the language he used, including saying the UK could become an “island of strangers” if changes are not made.

Ahead of the Holyrood debate, Robertson said: “How far Labour has fallen. Instead of a hopeful, optimistic, welcoming, inclusive message, on Monday the Prime Minister engaged in ugly, damaging and disgraceful rhetoric.

“Instead of standing up to the far-right he chose to lie down in front of Nigel Farage.

“Let me reassure all those from Europe and beyond who have made Scotland their home and who may well be feeling bruised and uncertain today – the Scottish Government values what you do.

“Your contribution to our health service, our care homes, our businesses and our communities is immense.

“You are part of us. You will always be welcome. And we thank you for making Scotland your home.”

Speaking to journalists about the issue, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was clear in the House that we can’t shy away from the reality of uncontrolled net migration. We’ve got to roll up our sleeves and get a grip on this issue, because successive governments have failed to do so.

“The open borders experiment inflicted by previous Conservative governments is what we are now reversing.”

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said on Wednesday it was for the Prime Minister to “use his own language”, but he agreed that “right across the board we need to see our net migration figures come down”.