"Starmer's island of strangers speech earlier this year marked a dramatic turn to the right on immigration. That infamous moment marked the publication of a government white paper that promised to clamp down on net migration, and blamed immigrants for overstretching public services ignoring how chronic disinvestment has left many of those services threadbare. Farage could barely contain his delight at Labour's new strategy. He congratulated Starmer for learning a great deal from Reform UK. Imitation really is the greatest form of flattery."
"Across Europe, the left has repeatedly responded to the radical right by echoing their rhetoric on immigration. In Germany, the previous coalition government, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz as chancellor, sharply changed its rhetoric and policies on immigration and asylum as it attempted to see off Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD). In the February 2025 election, the Social Democratic party received their historically worst result, securing just 16.4% of the vote."
Labour shifted sharply right on immigration, promising to clamp down on net migration and blaming immigrants for overstretching public services while ignoring chronic disinvestment that left services threadbare. Nigel Farage's Reform UK benefited politically from Labour's rhetoric and celebrated the imitation. Across Europe, centre-left parties have echoed radical right immigration rhetoric to counter their challengers; for example, Germany's previous coalition led by Olaf Scholz changed asylum and immigration policy and rhetoric. That strategy coincided with record-low support for the Social Democrats and increased backing for Alternative für Deutschland in February 2025. Mainstream hardline immigration positions can legitimize radical right claims and boost their electoral appeal.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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