Migrants Build Britain… While Politicians Trade at Their Expense
At a political crossroads clouded by fear and false choices, migrants in Britain today find themselves trapped between two extremes: the overt populism of Nigel Farage and the calculated shift to the right by Labour leader Keir Starmer. In a race to the bottom, where anti-immigration rhetoric dominates headlines and election campaigns, who will defend the values of justice, inclusion, and equality? And is there still room for a progressive political force to emerge?
Migration at the Heart of the Political Battle
Migration has long been a contentious issue in British politics, but it has now become the primary battleground on which political fortunes are built or broken. As far-right figures like Nigel Farage return to the spotlight—calling for the unification of the “true right”—Labour under Starmer has chosen not to challenge this trajectory, but rather to echo it, repackaging hostility in the language of pragmatism and “security.”
Starmer, who once pledged to restore trust in Labour and offer a vision of social justice, now appears more focused on courting right-leaning voters than defending Britain’s tradition of openness. In January 2024, he declared, “We will stop the small boats and return those who have no right to be here”—a statement eerily similar in tone to those made by former Conservative ministers like Suella Braverman.
Competing to Punish the Migrant
Just this month, Farage claimed that “Britain has lost total control of its borders, and we must take it back at any cost.” Almost simultaneously, Starmer echoed a similarly hardline stance, stating that “The current Rwanda plan is inadequate, and Labour will be even tougher in stopping the boats.”
Labour’s communications team has also begun using phrases such as “fairer asylum rules”—coded language that often translates into reduced access, tighter borders, and a more hostile environment. The distinction between left and right has become so blurred that, for many migrants, the difference is one of tone rather than substance.
Migrants: The Country’s Lifeline
Beyond rhetoric lies reality: migrants form the backbone of Britain’s essential services. Over 50% of NHS staff in London are from migrant backgrounds, with national figures hovering around 35%, according to NHS England’s 2023 data. In transport, migrants account for over 30% of drivers and support workers in major cities. The care sector, too, relies almost entirely on migrant labour to meet its growing demands.
These figures are not just statistics—they reflect how dependent Britain has become on the very people it continues to vilify. A single-day strike by migrant workers across these sectors would bring transport to a halt, cripple hospital operations, and paralyse the care system. In short, without migrants, the country does not function.
Is British Politics Beyond Saving?
As political discourse collapses into a competition of cruelty, it becomes increasingly clear that the answer will not come from within the current party system. Labour, once the natural home for working people and marginalised communities, now seems more concerned with headlines than with human rights. The Conservative Party, meanwhile, has already crossed the Rubicon of open xenophobia.
This is the moment when real political courage is needed. Leaders like Jeremy Corbyn—despite all the challenges he faced—proved that a different kind of politics is possible. His tenure as Labour leader galvanised millions around a vision of social justice, anti-racism, and international solidarity. That spirit must not be allowed to fade.
It is time for Corbyn and others like him—alongside trade unions, civil society organisations, and migrant communities—to consider launching a genuine alternative. Whether in the form of a new political party, a popular movement, or a democratic alliance, the need for a bold, humane vision has never been more urgent.
The Heart of the Struggle
This is no longer a battle between left and right; it is a battle between those who justify oppression and those who resist it. Between those who see migrants as a threat, and those who recognise them as builders of the common good. Between those who trade human dignity for votes, and those who insist on a politics rooted in compassion.
To stay silent is to be complicit. To equate the oppressor and the oppressed is, ultimately, to side with oppression. What we need now is not just a change in leadership, but a transformation of our political imagination—one that puts human dignity back at the centre of public life.
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