Keir Starmer has issued an apology to Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts for what he now calls an “overly rude” response during a heated exchange at last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.

The Labour leader had snapped back at Saville-Roberts after she accused him of abandoning his principles on migration in favour of focus group approval. In response to her challenge, Starmer retorted: “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.”

The remark drew criticism, including from within his own party.

Labour peer Harriet Harman said the prime minister had missed an opportunity to explain his position and instead opted to “slap her down.”

She told the Electoral Dysfunction podcast: “I just think to call across the chamber, ‘you’re rubbish’ – I think a prime minister has the opportunity to be a bit more magisterial [than] that.”

On Tuesday (May 20, 2025), Starmer addressed the matter in the Commons, opening a response to Saville-Roberts with a rare personal apology.

“I think last week I was overly rude and I apologise. I do respect the honourable member,” he said.

Saville-Roberts welcomed the apology and noted the difference in tone from the previous week.

“The chamber is a better place for people admitting their mistakes,” she said, while also describing Starmer’s earlier comments on immigration as “divisive.”

The initial clash came after Starmer made remarks warning the UK risks becoming “an island of strangers” — a phrase that has sparked concern among progressives and immigration advocates.

His Tuesday appearance was notably more measured, with an emphasis on neighbourliness and constructive EU relations.

One might reasonably conclude that the apology was, at least in part, a response to the political fallout.

Whether pressure from commentators, party colleagues, or even critical media like Vox Political contributed to Starmer’s change of tone is open to interpretation — but the shift is telling.