LONDON- Keir Starmer sat at his desk, exhausted but resolute, as he reflected on the latest controversy surrounding his comments on immigration. Just a few days ago, in an interview with The Sun, he had discussed Labour’s stance on the Conservative Government’s policy of deporting migrants who arrived illegally by small boats. His words had been precise: “At the moment, people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being removed because they’re not being processed.”
He elaborated on the inefficiencies under the current government, criticizing the drop in the number of migrants being returned. “On the first few days of government, I’ll tell you what I’d do,” he had asserted. “I’ll put the staff back in the returns unit. I’ll make sure I’ve got planes going off, not to Rwanda because that’s an expensive gimmick.” When asked where the migrants would be sent, he simply replied, “They will go back to the countries where people come from.”
The interview clip, selectively edited, began circulating on WhatsApp. It showed Starmer talking about “people coming from countries like Bangladesh,” but omitted the crucial context that he was referring to those without legal permission to stay in the UK. The final frame of the video carried a stark message: “Don’t vote for Labour on 4 July. Vote for Independent candidates.”
The backlash was swift and severe. Party insiders reported that the comments had “gone down like a lead balloon” among Bangladeshi voters. Apsana Begum, Labour’s candidate in Poplar and Limehouse, took to social media to condemn the remarks in both English and Sylheti, accusing politicians of “dog-whistle racism against Bangladeshis.” Paula Barker, standing for re-election in Liverpool Wavertree, tweeted passionately in support of the Bangladeshi community, emphasizing their significant contributions to the UK.
Labour’s leadership scrambled to address the fallout. A spokesperson clarified, “Keir has proudly supported the Bangladeshi community across the UK, who make an enormous contribution to our country. This clip has been edited to make it look as though Keir Starmer is suggesting repatriation of British Bangladeshis. It is misinformation.” They stressed that Starmer’s comments referred to returning those without legal rights to stay, citing a bilateral agreement with Bangladesh as an example.
Despite these clarifications, the damage was evident. Mish Rahman, a Labour National Executive Committee member, expressed his outrage on Twitter, accusing Starmer of being “intentionally offensive” and warning that this could cost him the historically loyal Bangladeshi vote. He voiced the frustration of many, noting that the Labour leader’s attitude risked alienating ethnic minority communities at a time when support for Independents and Greens was rising.
As the controversy continued to simmer, Starmer knew that regaining the trust of the Bangladeshi community would require more than just words. It would take tangible actions and sincere engagement to heal the rift and reaffirm Labour’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for all its supporters.
