In a stunning announcement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared the previous Conservative government’s controversial policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda as “dead and buried.” Starmer, speaking at his first news conference after his Labour Party’s landslide victory in the general election, emphasized that the Rwanda scheme was never an effective deterrent.
Dismissing the policy as a mere gimmick, Starmer vowed not to continue with practices that do not effectively deter asylum seekers. The contentious law, which declared Rwanda a safe third country, had faced backlash from rights activists and critics who deemed it inhumane. Despite facing opposition, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had pushed for the deportation scheme as a way to curb the influx of migrants and asylum seekers arriving via small boats from mainland Europe.
As asylum seekers faced detention and potential deportation to Rwanda, concerns regarding the human rights implications and safety of the individuals mounted. Amnesty International, led by secretary-general Agnes Callamard, urged the new Labour government to fulfill its promise to scrap the Rwanda pact and uphold international obligations.
While some criticized Starmer’s decision, others, like Conservative hardliner Suella Braverman, lamented the lost resources and efforts put into the failed policy. With a record number of people arriving in the UK via perilous journeys across the English Channel, the pressure is on for Starmer to find viable solutions to the ongoing migration crisis.
As the new Labour government navigates through challenging waters, political analyst Tim Bail suggests that alternative strategies must be devised to address the issue of small boats reaching British shores. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Starmer’s plans, it is evident that a new era of governance is underway, promising change and a renewed focus on the welfare of the country over partisan interests.
