Sir Keir Starmer said he has no doubt the government will launch flights to Rwanda, but Labor will “cancel the scheme immediately” if it wins the next general election.
The Labor leader, in announcing his party’s policy on illegal immigration, said the government’s main policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda will not work.
“They will make the flights take off, I don’t doubt that, but I also don’t doubt that it won’t work,” he said.
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When asked by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby whether this means he would stop any deportation flights to Rwanda on the first day of a Labor government, he said: “We will end the Rwanda scheme.
“I said this to you when we last met last week, the day before yesterday and you know, that means ending the scheme.
“Absolutely. Flights and everything.”
He added: “We’re going to cancel the scheme – of course that means we’re not going to operate the scheme at all, it’s a ruse, I’m not going to flog a dead horse.
“Let’s get rid of politics immediately.”
Labor later clarified that the party would not interrupt any flights already planned, but would not schedule any more.
‘Small vessel crossings are one of the biggest challenges we face’
The Rwandan government’s scheme, which aims to deter asylum seekers arriving in the UK on boats across the English Channel, has been stalled by legal arguments but last month was approved to become law. However, no flights have yet departed.
The scheme means that any asylum seeker who enters the UK illegally from a safe country such as France could be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed. They would not be allowed to apply to return to the UK.
In a speech in Dover alongside new Labor MP Natalie Elphicke, Sir Keir insisted that “our asylum system must be rebuilt”.
As part of Labor’s plan, he announced:
• A new Border Security Command with “hundreds of specialist investigators” from the NCA, Border Force, CPS, MI5 and Immigration Enforcement
• Expects a new partnership with Europol and new information sharing networks
• New counter-terrorism powers to close bank accounts, track movements and block internet access for human traffickers
• A rules-based asylum system with accelerated reforms and a law enforcement unit.
The Labor leader said turning a blind eye to people smuggling was “not a progressive or compassionate position” as he outlined his plans to tackle small boat crossings.
He said that “our asylum system must be rebuilt and our borders must be protected”, and accused the Conservatives of having been driven from a serious party of government “into the rocks of their own delusion” in their pursuit of “political of gestures” on immigration.
“Our rules-based system must align with global rules that protect individual human rights,” added Sir Keir.
“This is in our best interest and it is the right thing to do.”
Reacting to Sir Keir’s announcement, Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Labour has no plans to stop the boats.
“Labour has an amnesty on illegal immigration, Labor has blocked the deportation of violent sex offenders and Labor has voted more than 130 times against tougher legislation to stop the boats.
“Even Labor MPs say Labor can’t be trusted to stop the boats, which shows nothing will change.
“If people can apply for asylum from outside the UK then unlimited applications can be made, many of which will have to be accepted under the law and even then many of those refused will board a small boat anyway.” .
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