Diane Abbott condemns Keir Starmer's immigration speech as 'fundamentally racist' - 'Contrary to British history!' (0.00851063829787234)

<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52921864%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3DySRPdCqKxW7" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p>Diane Abbott has condemned Prime Minister Keir Starmer's recent immigration speech as "fundamentally racist" during a thousands-strong anti-austerity march in London today.</p><p>The UK's first black woman MP said she was "very disturbed" by the Prime Minister's comments about Britain risking becoming an "island of strangers".</p><h3></h3><br/><p>Speaking to demonstrators, Abbott said: "I thought that was a fundamentally racist thing to say. It is contrary to Britain's history."</p><p>The veteran Labour MP, who has served Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, also criticised Starmer's assertion that mass immigration had done "incalculable damage" to Britain.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>Abbott drew direct comparisons between Starmer's rhetoric and Enoch Powell's infamous 1968 "Rivers of Blood" speech. "He talked about closing the book on a squalid chapter for our politics – immigrants represent a squalid chapter," she told the crowd.</p><p>The Mother of the House defended immigrants' contributions to Britain, invoking her own family history.</p><p>"My parents came to this country in the 50s. They were not strangers. They helped to build this country," Abbott said.</p><p>She dismissed Starmer's claim about immigration damage, stating: "He talked about how he thought immigration has done incalculable damage to this green and pleasant land, which, of course, is nonsense – immigrants built this land."</p><strong>LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:<br/></strong><ul><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/politics/zia-yusuf-new-role-resign-reform-chairman" target="_self">Zia Yusuf to RETURN to Reform with new role just 48 hours after resigning as party chairman</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/money/energy-zero-bills-homes-scheme-octopus" target="_self">Thousands offered lifeline as 'zero-bills' scheme promises no energy costs for up to 10 years</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gbnews.com/news/cockney-accent-decline-migration-cultural-identity" target="_self">One of Britain's most iconic accents is 'dying' with migration partly to 'blame': 'Loss of identity'</a></li></ul><h3></h3><br><img alt="\u200bDiane Abbott speaking at the anti-Austerity rally in London" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="538b80503e1af461ce4c4b78d90f8007" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="e21c6" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/u200bdiane-abbott-speaking-at-the-anti-austerity-rally-in-london.png?id=60652915&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>Abbott also accused the Prime Minister of mimicking Reform UK's approach to immigration.</p><p>"I think Keir Starmer is quite wrong to say that the way that you beat Reform is to copy Reform," she said.</p><p>Other Labour figures have joined the criticism of Starmer's language.</p><p>Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell called the comments "shockingly divisive" and said they "reflected the language of Enoch Powell".</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="\u200bJeremy Corbyn also spoke at the rally" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f04f3beef20428ce8aae256f4f995b92" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="31d15" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/u200bjeremy-corbyn-also-spoke-at-the-rally.png?id=60653220&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Zarah Sultana, who has the Labour whip suspended, described the PM "imitating" Powell's speech as "sickening".</p><p>Labour MP Olivia Blake said: "Moves to cast migrants as strangers are divisive and hostile."</p><p>A Government source insisted Sir Keir had not been aware of any similarity with Powell's speech, adding: "It was absolutely not a reference to Powell. The PM's speech was about the need for integration."</p><p>The anti-austerity march was organised by The People's Assembly, which criticised "Keir Starmer's Government is making spending cuts that target the poorest, most vulnerable in society."</p><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><h3></h3><br/><p>Thousands of left-wing demonstrators gathered in central London to protest against the Government's programme of spending cuts and welfare reform.</p><p>The event featured representatives from the Green Party, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, the National Education Union and the Revolutionary Communist Party.</p><p>A spokesman for The People's Assembly said: "Real tough choices would be for a Labour Government to tax the rich and their hidden wealth, to fund public services, fair pay, investment in communities and the NHS."</p></br>