'Island of strangers': What UK PM Starmer said on immigration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that his administration would tighten every area of the country's broken immigration system to stop the country from becoming an "island of strangers". The comment drew a huge backlash as it was seen as unnecessary fear-mongering.

Starmer was speaking at a Downing Street press conference before the publication of an immigration white paper that set out details of how the government intends to introduce restrictions across all forms of visas to the UK.

“Nations depend on rules, fair rules. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other," Starmer said. “In a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together."

UK visa changes

According to the government's new plan, Adults accompanying foreign workers to the UK will be expected to pass an English language test and care homes will be prevented from recruiting staff from abroad

Foreign workers in the UK can automatically apply for settlement in the UK after five years. But now the government would make this 10 years.

Under the white paper proposals, graduate visas will be reduced to 18 months, and a 6% levy on income that universities generate from international students will be introduced. That money will then be used to supplement domestic student costs.

Nigel Farage has mocked Sir Keir Starmer as “playing catch up” with Reform UK over his immigration crackdown.

'Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family'

The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous.

Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family.

To suggest that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers” because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right.

— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) May 12, 2025

Nadia Whittome, a left-wing Labour MP, criticized Starmer for his immigration reform speech. Posting on social media, the MP for Nottingham East said: “The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous. “To suggest that Britain risks becoming “an island of strangers” because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right."

“Blaming migrants for a housing crisis and failing public services lets the real culprits off the hook: landlordism, chronic underinvestment and deepening inequality," she said.