Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly expressed his regret over using the phrase "island of strangers" in a speech addressing the UK's immigration policy. Delivered in May, the speech was intended to outline Labour's stance on immigration but instead sparked controversy for its perceived similarity to Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

In an interview with his biographer, Tom Baldwin, published in the Observer, Starmer admitted that he would not have used the contentious phrase had he known it would be interpreted as an echo of Powell's rhetoric. "I had no idea—and my speechwriters didn't know either," Starmer stated, adding, "I deeply regret using it."

The timing of the speech coincided with a distressing personal event for Starmer—a firebomb attack on his family home in London. He acknowledged that this incident affected his mental state, though he refrained from using it as an excuse for the language used in his speech. "I was really, really worried," he confessed, noting that his wife was also deeply shaken by the attack.

The speech drew criticism from various quarters, including Labour MPs who feared that such language could exacerbate racial tensions. Sarah Owen, chair of the women and equalities committee, warned against "chasing the tail of the right," while MP Nadia Whittome described the rhetoric as "shameful and dangerous."

Despite the backlash, Starmer's spokesperson initially defended the speech, asserting that the Prime Minister stood by his words. However, the recent interview marks a shift in Starmer's stance, as he acknowledges the need for more careful consideration of language in political discourse.