In his first press conference since taking office, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the end of the controversial Rwandan deportation policy introduced by the former conservative government, Anadolu reports.
A plan to send asylum seekers to Kigali has been officially scrapped, marking a significant change in policy by the New Labor government.
Starmer reiterated his commitment to ending what he described as ineffective and inhumane immigration measures.
“The Rwanda project was dead and buried before it started. It was never an obstacle,” he told Downing Street.
He pointed to record numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel in the first half of 2024 as evidence of the policy’s failure.
“I won’t go, I won’t be prosecuted, so I’ll stay here, so I’ll stay in paid accommodation for a very long time. It’s had the exact opposite effect, I’m not ready to continue with gimmicks that don’t work as a deterrent,” he added.
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Labor pledged to end Rwanda’s deportation program “on day one”, arguing that the policy was not only ineffective, but also expensive and inhumane.
The Starmer administration is now focusing on tackling the root causes of illegal immigration and improving the UK’s asylum system.
To control English Channel crossings, StarMet outlined a strategy that included hiring specialist investigators and using counter-terrorism forces to root out criminal gangs that facilitate dangerous journeys.
Labor plans to divert funds currently allocated to the Rwanda project to implementation activities. The party proposed the creation of a new “Border Security Command” to prosecute gangs operating small boat routes and increase security cooperation with the EU.
In addition, Labor intends to give police powers to search for suspected people smugglers and new powers to monitor their financial accounts.
