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Keir Starmer Under Fire For ‘Puerile’ Response To MP Question About His Principles

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Keir Starmer has been slammed for his response to an MP who accused him of not having any principles.

During prime minister’s questions, the Plaid Cymru leader Liz Saville Roberts pointed out how Starmer has U-turned over migrants’ rights over the years – only for the PM to tell her she “talks rubbish”.

It comes after the Labour leader declared a migration crackdown on Monday, saying Britain risked turning into an “island of strangers” – a phrase critics claimed evoked Enoch Powell.

“This prime minister once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants, and defending free movement,” Saville Roberts said, pointing to Starmer’s 2020 campaign.

“Now he talks of ‘islands of strangers’ and taking back control,” she continued.

“Somebody here has to call this out, Mr Speaker, it seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group.

“So I ask him: is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?”

Starmer angrily hit back: “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.

“Mr Speaker, I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and communities, not as strangers.”

While chancellor Rachel Reeves laughed at his response, it seems social media was less than impressed.

Critics on X (formerly Twitter) said his comment was “rude and ungracious”, and “totally inappropriate to the position he holds”.

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Starmer’s response is very revealing & shows that he’s feeling under pressure. He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj

— Alan Weston (@alanweston) May 14, 2025

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He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj— Alan Weston (@alanweston) May 14, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Alan Weston on Twitter / 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Starmer’s response is very revealing & shows that he’s feeling under pressure. He could’ve replied with a witty remark (if he was capable of one) or just answered it seriously – instead he’s just plain rude & ungracious. https://t.co/f8MEcZ9zvj

— Alan Weston (@alanweston) May 14, 2025

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It’s not a brutal slap down, it’s the response of a man who can’t handle the truth. It was rude, disrespectful & totally inappropriate given the position he holds. https://t.co/y03CsMeIHT

— Estella Joyce 🌟 (@LelJoyce) May 14, 2025

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It’s not a brutal slap down, it’s the response of a man who can’t handle the truth. It was rude, disrespectful & totally inappropriate given the position he holds. https://t.co/y03CsMeIHT

— Estella Joyce 🌟 (@LelJoyce) May 14, 2025