‘Man of many skins!’ Starmer slammed over immigration U-turn as Labour’s ‘vacuous’ leader pledges crackdown

Critics of the Labour leader were left bewildered by Starmer given he previously expressed his concern about Tory plans to end freedom of movement.

Former Brexit Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is seeking re-election as the MP for North East Somerset, told GB News: “Starmer has become a feather cushion bearing the imprint of the last focus group that sits on him.”

Another Tory MP said: “Labour seem locked into a campaign strategy of say anything to get elected, lots of which is clickbait desperation to wide what they have been saying for years.

“We all know the left want open borders and the public will see through it in seconds.”

A Conservative source added: “Slowly but surely Sir Keir is being found out. He’s a vacuous vessel who will absorb any view or position in order to gain power.

“Voters should ask themselves do they really know what Sir Keir stands for?”

Tory figures have also highlighted how Starmer served as Corbyn's Shadow Brexit Secretary and pushed for a second referendum on EU membership.

However, it was not just Conservative figures who voiced concern about the Labour leader’s change of heart.

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A spokesperson for Momentum, a left-wing pressure group on the fringe of the Labour Party, told GB News: “Four years ago Keir promised to make the positive case for immigration and build a system based on compassion and dignity.

“He's done quite the opposite, embracing not just Natalie Elphicke but her anti-migrant politics.

“Labour should stop embracing the Tories' race to the bottom and set out a new approach, including expanded safe routes for refugees.”

Directly addressing Starmer’s more liberal pledge to members in 2020, a Labour source added: “As people have worked out Keir is a man of many skins that he sheds when necessary.

“This would never be policy it’s just what would appeal to members.

“I wouldn’t expect him to do anything like this in Government.”

In an open letter penned by Starmer in January 2020, the Holborn & St Pancras MP said: “Britain is economically, culturally and socially richer as a result of immigration.”

He added: “For too long, Labour has been unwilling to speak about immigration and unable to set out a positive vision for a modern, welcome and compassionate immigration system.

“I believe that can change, and once I’m elected Labour leader, it will.”

Throughout the letter, Starmer also promised to close immigration detention centres, liberalise family reunions, let asylum seekers workers, and give foreign residents the right to vote.

He later boasted about suing the Government to increase benefits for asylum seekers and complained about the system deterring migrants who come to the UK illegally.

However, Starmer would later deliver a speech vowing to “make Brexit work”, adding: “We will not return to freedom of movement to create short-term fixes.”

The Labour leader, who vowed to scrap Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda plan, also vowed to establish a new Border Security Command to work with Border Force, MI5 and the National Crime Agency on prosecuting gangs operating small boat routes.

Outgoing Dover MP Natalie Elphicke, who defected to Labour after being seen as a figure on the right of the Tory Party, promoted the proposal and slammed Sunak over his handling of the Channel crossing crisis.

However, Starmer is facing pressure from London’s Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan to relax immigration rules to enable young Europeans to settle in the capital.

Despite witnessing a dip in salience immediately after the Brexit referendum, concern about immigration has steadily risen in recent years.

YouGov revealed immigration and asylum is the third biggest issue in voters' minds, with it ranking higher among 2019 Tory voters and 2016 Brexit backers.

Net migration hit 685,000 last year, the second highest in the nation’s history.

The number of small boats crossing the Channel peaked in 2022, with 45,774 making the perilous 21-mile trip.

However, the figure stood at 29,437 in 2023 and the total for 2024 so far exceeded 10,000 late last month.

Setting out his plan to deal with immigration, Starmer told The Sun on Sunday: “Read my lips — I will bring immigration numbers down.

“If you trust me with the keys to No10 I will make you this promise: I will control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first.”

He added: “This is a changed Labour Party, back in the service of working people.

“That means not just talking about sky-high migration but acting on it.”