Andy Beckett is right to criticise the current approach by Keir Starmer on immigration (Bullies can sense weakness – which is why Labour must not shy away from taking on the global far right, 9 December). To describe the increase in migrant numbers in the UK as a Tory “open borders experiment” is a crude populist gimmick of which Starmer should be ashamed.
The immigration issue is too serious for playing political games like this. Across Europe and in the US, the far right is gaining strength on the basis of hostility to immigration, and the centre-left is simply mimicking this xenophobic lead without success. Labour is following this trend, which only legitimises the politics of racial hatred and encourages voters to support the most extreme and convincing voices.
There is an alternative narrative that Starmer could lead, stressing the enormous benefits of immigration to our economy, our society, our universities, our cities and town centres, our culture – and of course, as Starmer knows, our football clubs. Will he have the courage to reframe the debate before it is too late?
Gideon Ben-Tovim
Liverpool
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