‘I’m Proud to Be the Son of Immigrants’ – Sadiq Khan Hits Back at Kier Starmer’s in a Shocking Move

Sadiq Khan has come out strongly to defend immigrants, saying that they are not lazy or taking advantage of the country. He spoke after Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave a speech warning that without stronger immigration control, Britain could turn into what he called “an island of strangers.” That speech caused a lot of debate, especially among Labour Party members.

The Prime Minister said the Labour Government wants to take back control of the UK’s borders and end what he described as a messy and shameful period in politics and the economy. He made this promise during a serious speech at Downing Street, saying changes would be made to limit immigration and make it more selective.

But Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, didn’t agree with the way the Prime Minister said it. Speaking the next day, Khan said he wouldn’t have used those kinds of words. He explained that he sees immigrants as a valuable part of the country. Coming from an immigrant family himself—his parents moved to London from Pakistan—he said he sees first-hand how much immigrants have helped build the city. He talked about how migrants have shaped London through their hard work, culture, and ideas. He said he’s thankful to all the migrants who contribute to making London great and that he’s proud to be both British and a Londoner.

Sadiq Khan also said he doesn’t believe Keir Starmer meant to insult immigrants. He thinks the Prime Minister was referring more to the promises made during the Brexit campaign, where people were told immigration would be controlled more tightly. Khan said that even though Starmer might have meant something else, the choice of words wasn’t helpful.

He also explained how immigrants bring value to the UK, especially skilled migrants. He gave some numbers, saying that on average, a skilled migrant adds about £16,000 each year to the economy, even after you count what they use in public services like schools and hospitals. Their families add another £12,000. In comparison, a family of skilled British workers actually takes around £4,400 from the economy. This means that, from a financial point of view, skilled migrants help more than they take. Khan also pointed out that many of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK were started by migrants or people from migrant families.

He said that calling immigrants lazy or calling them spongers is simply wrong. He made it clear that this kind of thinking is based on myths and not on facts. But even though he strongly supports immigrants, Khan also said that it’s important to have proper border control. He believes in being fair and respectful, but also responsible when it comes to who enters the country.

During a phone-in show called “Speak with Sadiq” on the radio station LBC, he was asked about what the Prime Minister had said. He stayed calm and tried to balance his answers, saying it’s possible to have both strong borders and respect for immigrants who work hard and play by the rules.

Some Labour MPs in London were not happy with what Keir Starmer said and spoke publicly to disagree with him. A few people even asked if this moment could be the right time for Sadiq Khan to try and become the next leader of the Labour Party. But he laughed it off and said that was just people trying to stir up trouble. He called it “mischief-making.”

When someone asked if he plans to run again for Mayor in 2028, he didn’t give a clear answer. He said people should wait and see when the time comes. He reminded everyone that he had just won re-election with a historic number of votes, and for now, he’s focusing on the job he was just elected to do.