In a dramatic pre-election move, Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to axe the government's flagship Rwanda asylum scheme on his very first day in Number 10. The Labour leader delivered the bombshell announcement during a major campaign speech, positioning immigration as a central battleground for the upcoming election.
A Costly "Gimmick" to be Scrapped
Starmer pulled no punches, branding the multi-million pound deportation plan a failed "gimmick" that has haemorrhaged taxpayer money without removing a single asylum seeker to Rwanda. He promised a swift and decisive end to what he called a symbol of the Conservative government's incompetence.
"The Rwanda scheme is a costly farce, a stain on our reputation, and it will be consigned to the history books under a Labour government," Starmer declared to supporters.
Labour's Alternative: A New Border Security Command
Rather than continuing with what he termed a "performative" policy, Starmer outlined Labour's alternative approach. The cornerstone of his plan is the creation of a new elite Border Security Command, boasting powers akin to counter-terrorism units.
This new force would be tasked with:
- Smashing the criminal smuggling gangs operating across the Channel.
- Bolstering security and intelligence cooperation with European partners.
- Processing asylum claims more efficiently to clear the massive backlog.
Clearing the Backlog and Restoring Order
Starmer argued that his party's focus would be on practical, workable solutions instead of headline-grabbing schemes that fail in the courts. A key priority will be tackling the staggering backlog of asylum cases, which he blames for the crippling cost of housing migrants in hotels.
"We will restore sanity, competence, and order to our immigration system," he stated, aiming to draw a clear line between Labour's pragmatic approach and the Conservatives' controversial tactics.
This bold pledge sets the stage for a fierce political battle over one of the most contentious issues in British politics, making immigration a defining issue of the upcoming General Election campaign.
