Keir Starmershe acknowledges her for prompting his realization that the Left had "been mistaken" regarding immigration.
His story about encountering retiree Joyce Todd became the main focus of his leader's speech at theLabour Party conference.
It is almost unbelievable that Mrs. Todd's memory of their 2015 encounter while campaigning in Oldham contrasts so significantly with the Prime Minister's account.
Since she claims the meeting was extremely tense, lasting under 15 minutes before she ordered him to leave her house, as he accused her of being racist.
From the major issues concerning immigration to minor specifics like whether she offered him Rich Tea biscuits, 79-year-old Joyce is clear-cut.
Keir Starmer is a liar," she stated in a special interview. "He still doesn't understand.
The sudden rise of Mrs. Todd to the national level, which caught her off guard, occurred following Sir Keir's account on Tuesday about a meeting with her a decade ago that prompted him to reconsider the party's stance on the growingly complex issue of immigration.
Shortly after becoming an MP, I traveled to Oldham for a by-election," the Prime Minister remembered. "I was taken to a street to meet a woman, who I was informed had firm opinions on immigration.
I knocked on the door, she welcomed me inside, we had a cup of tea along with a Rich Tea biscuit, and then as we were sitting there, she retrieved her photo album and showed me some pictures.
It is here that Mrs. Todd's account of events differs from that of Sir Keir. "There were no Rich Tea biscuits," she informed us.
And certainly there was no looking through a photo album. He was sitting on one armchair, I was on another, and his staff were on the sofa, and we had a cup of tea—but there were no biscuits or photo albums.
However, Mrs. Todd's concerns regarding Sir Keir's version become significantly more serious when the discussion turns to more significant issues.
Sir Keir said to his party: 'They [the pictures] depicted the wedding of her Asian neighbor. She was proud to be her friend… I began wondering 'What's happening here?'.
Then we eventually got to it, and she explained how some men from Eastern Europe had recently moved into her neighborhood. They would sit on her wall, failed to dispose of their trash at the proper time, and spat on the ground. To her, this violated the small but significant rules of her street. She wasn't fond of it.
Then I understood that what was truly occurring was that she was a regular working-class woman from Oldham, a Labour supporter, and she believed she needed to demonstrate to a Labour politician that she wasn't racist before she could even address the concerns in her neighborhood.
However, Mrs. Todd remembers the meeting in the front room of her £130,000 terraced home taking place differently. "I don't know why he claimed I brought out my photo album and showed him pictures of me at an Asian wedding because I didn't," she maintained.
And she explained how the meeting ended with her being mocked for her opinions on immigration.
Mrs. Todd, a former trade journalist, described how she met Sir Keir, who had been elected as an MP the year before.
She stated, "I was part of a panel known as The New Deal for Communities, and the council believed it would be beneficial for him to meet me because I hold very direct opinions."
I'm definitely not a racist. However, that's what he claimed during our conversation.
I informed him that there was an issue on the street involving Eastern European men who were spitting and causing trouble... I shared these concerns with him, and he responded: 'Mrs. Todd, I believe you might be racist.'
I told him no, I wasn't—and mentioned that I have Asian friends, have attended numerous Asian weddings and events, and that we give Christmas gifts to Asian children.
I was genuinely offended. I have received awards for assisting within the local community, and I have Asian friends who come to me seeking help with issues such as managing their bills and bank statements. So, if I were racist, would I do that?
I stated: 'That's completely incorrect, and if that's your feeling, you can leave my house now.' They did. They couldn't have stayed for more than 15 minutes.
Sir Keir did not mention Mrs. Todd by name during his speech, but local reporters remembered the arranged meeting. She said: 'When I saw the news, I immediately realized the Prime Minister was referring to his visit to my home for the by-election.'
Mrs. Todd is less worried about the attention she has received than the quantity of errors she claims were present in his speech.
"His memory of the visit was completely different... and I'm disappointed that he has distorted the actual events," she stated.
If you don't trust him to be honest about visiting my house for a 15-minute conversation, how can you believe him when it comes to policies?
That truly bothers me because I've been a Labour supporter my entire life, I even cast my vote for Labour last time [when Sir Keir became PM in July last year] – but that's over now. Never again.
Mrs. Todd, who spoke to the Daily Mail from the same neat living room where she previously entertained Sir Keir, stated: 'Labour is leading the country into a condition of decline, and I don't see how we will emerge from it.'
We are the subject of ridicule globally regarding illegal migration — we are allowing too many individuals into the country, whereas other places would return them without hesitation.
The part of Sir Keir's speech referring to the meeting ended with: 'I kept that [recollection of the meeting] with me throughout the difficult years… We were a party that favored working people – and that is why we transformed the party.'
However, Mrs. Todd feels that she and others in similar situations are still being treated with condescension regarding migration. "I don't have an issue with individuals who are truly escaping conflict or natural disasters," she stated. "But the majority of people on these boats are young men who are here for one reason... benefits."
And that's what regular people are finding annoying – as they battle with the rising expenses.
When questioned about whom she would support in the upcoming election, Mrs. Todd responded instantly: "Reform — without a doubt. No matter what the Prime Minister has stated regarding Nigel Farage. Many people in this area will make the same choice, including the Asians who have lived here for years."
When questioned about her opinion on Sir Keir's promise to halt the boats and dismantle criminal groups, Mrs. Todd responded: "What has he truly accomplished? It has gotten worse."
If you voice your opinion, you're labeled a racist, but that's not accurate—you simply have valid worries about the changes taking place in the nation.
How many countries are these individuals passing through before they arrive here? A lot – but they all wish to come to Britain because they perceive it as the land of milk and honey.
The episode serves as a reminder of when former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown was overheard on a microphone referring to a voter who had concerns about migration as 'a bigoted woman'.
Mrs. Todd, originally from Oldham, purchased her home with her husband Norman for £3,000 in 1979. She remarked, "Back then, it was a great neighborhood. Everyone knew each other from one end of the street to the other."
The neighbors from across the street are of Indian origin. They relocated to London many years back, yet we continue to stay in contact. It's been approximately the last ten years that significant changes have occurred.
Mrs. Todd said, "It's the regular people who have to endure this situation, and the problem is that the new arrivals aren't interested in integrating and becoming part of our culture. I mentioned this to him ten years ago."
Read more- Did Sir Keir Starmer misunderstand the sentiment of Britain's working class regarding immigration, as illustrated by a retiree's story?
- Why are Sir Keir's personal ratings declining despite Labour's updated strict approach to migration?
- Has Keir Starmer's strong position on large-scale immigration caused a political controversy, with him arguing it could turn Britain into an 'island of strangers'?
- With growing criticism for not meeting expectations, can Keir Starmer's updated immigration policy attract doubtful voters during a period of rising living expenses?
- Can Keir Starmer's strong appeal be sufficient to close the gap with working-class voters who are upset about Labour's position on immigration?
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