The Home Secretary has condemned elements of the “Unite the Kingdom” rally held in London earlier this month, describing some participants as “heirs to the skinheads and the P***-bashers of old”.
But Shabana Mahmood told the Labour Party conference that the 150,000 people who took part in the Tommy Robinson-led march cannot all be dismissed as an “angry minority”.
Ms Mahmood warned that working-class communities will turn away from voting Labour and "seek solace in the false promises” of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK unless the Government fails to get control migration.
"Just days into this job, on the 13 of September, 150,000 people marched through London,” she told delegates in Liverpool.
"They did so under the banner of a convicted criminal and a former BNP (British National Party) member.
“While not everyone was violent, some were, 26 police officers were injured as they tried to keep the peace.
"And while not everyone chanted racist slogans, some did. Clear that in their view of this country, I have no place.
"It would be easy to dismiss this as nothing but an angry minority, heirs to the skinheads and the P*ki-bashers of old, and make no mistake, some were.
"But to dismiss what happened that day would be to ignore something bigger, something broader, that is happening across this country. The story of who we are is contested."
Ms Mahmood said that voters would turn “towards something smaller, something narrower, something less welcoming, and the division within this country will grow” unless immigration and record small boat crossings are tackled.
"So, the challenge we now face is this, not just to win the next election, but to keep the country together and to fight for our belief in a greater Britain, not a littler England,” she said.
"That work begins at our borders, where we must restore order and control.”
Migrants who want to remain in Britain will have to learn English to a high standard, have no criminal record and volunteer their time in their communities, under new plans laid out by the Home Secretary.
Ms Mahmood set out a series of conditions for those seeking indefinite leave to remain status during her speech.
Asylum seekers will need to be working, paying national insurance and not be claiming benefits under the proposed changes.
Labour said there is a “dividing line” between the Government’s proposals and Reform UK’s pledge to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants.
A consultation on the changes will be launched later this year.
