London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Boris Johnson has launched a vicious attack against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over his handling of the far-right protests and his policy on immigration.
What are Boris Johnson’s main criticisms of Keir Starmer?
The former PM, who was humiliated over breaking lockdown rules during the pandemic and misleading parliament, blamed Sir Keir’s government for being “deaf” to public worries about immigration. Reporting in his MailOnline column, Mr Johnson indicated Sir Keir needed to pack his “Factor 50” and go on holiday to reminisce on his premiership so far.
What are the implications of Johnson’s comments on immigration?
He said in his outburst: “Nothing excuses a government that appears deaf to public concerns, and that means, moreover, that they actively oppose all members of the public who share those concerns.” The former Tory leader charged Sir Keir with giving “the clear appearance of a man who has no plan to prevent illegal immigration because he simply doesn’t care”.
His remarks come after Sir Keir slammed former PM Rishi Sunak’s approach to the small boats situation as “gimmicks, not serious government” and established the party’s strategies to clamp down on people smugglers back in May. The Labour leader stated there are thousands of migrants from nations including Bangladesh, India and others with which Britain does not require returns arrangements to deport those arriving in small boats.
What has been the reaction from the Bangladeshi community
The words were fiercely criticised by some in the Bangladeshi society and his party at the time, with the deputy director of the Labour group on Tower Hamlets council in east London resigning.
In a message shared on social media site X, councillor Sabina Akhtar stated: “I cannot be proud of the party any more when the leader of the party singles out my community and insults my Bangladeshi identity.”
In his attack, Mr Johnson also discussed the Labour leader should go on vacation as it “has become ever clearer, over the past week, that your sight has made no difference whatever to the troubles– or, if anything, made things marginally worse”.
What is Labour MP Bill Esterson’s response to Johnson’s remarks
The words come after far-right riots have exploded across England and Northern Ireland in the wake of the deadly stabbing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed vacation club in Southport at the end of July. Reacting to Mr Johnson’s comments, Labour MP Bill Esterson expressed: “Boris Johnson went on holiday when he was Mayor of London in 2011 during the London riots. Keir Starmer chose not to go on holiday to deal with the riots across the country this week. Those are the facts if you hear Johnson saying something different.”