British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Saturday the termination of his predecessor’s controversial Rwanda deportation policy for asylum-seekers, signaling a shift in the UK’s approach to immigration. During his first press conference following Labour’s victory over the Conservatives, Starmer criticized the plan, asserting, “The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started. It’s never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite.”
Addressing reporters at 10 Downing St., Starmer expressed his urgency for reform but refrained from setting a timeline for improvements in living standards or public services. In his inaugural remarks as prime minister, he highlighted priorities including revitalizing the National Health Service and addressing border security amidst the global migrant crisis exacerbated by conflict and climate change.
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The Rwanda plan, intended to deter dangerous Channel crossings by threatening deportation to East Africa, has cost the government significantly without ever being implemented. Starmer’s comments mark a decisive departure from the previous government’s strategy, which failed to meet former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats.”
