The First Minister of Wales has said she would not use “divisive language” when asked if she supported the Prime Minister’s comments on migration.
Eluned Morgan, the Labour leader of the Welsh Government, was repeatedly asked whether she supported Sir Keir Starmer saying the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” if immigration was not reduced.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions, she refused to say whether she supported the comments, responding that Wales was a “welcoming nation”.
Sir Keir has faced backlash from critics, including backbench Labour members, with some claiming his comments echoed Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “rivers of blood” speech – something rejected by his official spokesman.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, accused the Prime Minister of trying to “out-Reform Reform” with the comments.
He warned that “another Labour lurch to the right will have potentially serious repercussions”, particularly for the care sector in Wales, which relied on immigration.
He added: “Her party leader, the Prime Minister, wants to undermine that for political reasons, even adopting the language of division.
“I ask her to distance herself from that language of division.
“What is her plan now to ensure those reliant on the care sector in Wales aren’t punished by her party’s latest dog-whistle actions?”
Baroness Morgan responded: “I’m not going to use divisive language when it comes to immigration, that’s not the value we have in Welsh Labour.
“We are committed to ensuring that we do our best to provide a care service in Wales.
“That will be more difficult if it is not possible to hire people from abroad.”
Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, repeatedly asked the First Minister whether she agreed with the Prime Minister that immigration was “too high” and agreed the UK was becoming an “island of strangers”.
Baroness Morgan said: “Wales is a welcoming nation, I think we are very proud to be associated with the positive values that immigration can bring and contribute to our communities and societies and the vast contribution that they make to our public services.”
She said she recognised there were concerns about immigration, but insisted levels were quite low in Wales.
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