If ever you’re in need as I was
may you have an island of strangers
like I had.
Keir Starmer recently made a speech on migration which include several unfortunate similarities to the policies of a party I won't mention. We need migrants, and many of those currently waiting to have their applications processed possess the skills we are short of.
One particularly crass remark was that we faced becoming an 'island of strangers'. To be fair, I only know (or have ever met) a fraction of one percent of the total population of the United Kingdom. I went to London last Wednesday and only saw 4 people that I knew (and I'd arranged to meet three of them...)
On this crowded beach in Lyme Regis I knew nobody.
Michael Rosen responded to the language in the speech with a poem which was published in 'The Guardian'. It refers to his treatment after he developed COVID during the pandemic.
The NHS is one of those organisations which relies on migrants, along with the hospitality and care sector.
Images Alan Parkinson, shared on Flickr under CC license.
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