In her first decisive action as Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper has officially terminated the controversial Rwanda asylum scheme, marking a dramatic shift in Britain's immigration policy under the new Labour government.
The move came just hours after Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet was sworn in, with Cooper declaring the Conservative's flagship immigration policy "dead and buried" before it ever saw a single flight take off.
Immediate Action on Election Promises
Cooper wasted no time in fulfilling Labour's campaign pledge to scrap the scheme, which had cost taxpayers approximately £300 million without resulting in any deportations to the African nation.
In a statement that underscored the new government's approach, the Home Office confirmed: "The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started. It has never been a deterrent, just a costly gimmick."
New Direction for UK Border Strategy
The decision signals a complete overhaul of Britain's approach to immigration and border control. Instead of the Rwanda plan, the Labour government plans to focus on what Cooper describes as "practical measures" to tackle people smuggling and clear the massive asylum backlog.
This includes establishing a new Border Security Command with enhanced powers to disrupt smuggling networks operating across the English Channel.
Political and Financial Legacy
The Rwanda scheme had become a central point of political contention, with the previous government under Rishi Sunak fighting numerous legal battles to implement the policy despite Supreme Court rulings declaring it unlawful.
Critics had long argued the policy was both unethical and unworkable, while supporters claimed it would serve as a deterrent to dangerous Channel crossings.
The scheme's termination represents one of the most significant policy reversals in recent political history and sets the tone for Labour's approach to one of the most contentious issues in British politics.
