UK politics: Starmer unveils small boats plan as Sunak’s first Rwanda flights could take off in June
Shadow health secretary claims more Tories could follow Elphicke’s path in joining the Labour Party but Sir Keir Starmer denies Nigel Farage is joining
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Keir Starmer has unveiled a counter-terror style small boats plan that will “replace gimmicks with graft” by scrapping the Rwanda scheme.
He has vowed to partly fund a new “elite” border unit as he set out his plans to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
In a speech at Dover, the Labour leader accused the Conservatives of operating a “Travelodge amnesty” by housing asylum-seekers in hotels rather than processing their claims.
He was accompanied by new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke, who has slammed the Tories approach on boats just days after defecting from the party.
Speaking about her admission, he said the move represents the “mood of the country” as Rishi Sunak is “clinging on by his fingernails” to power.
During the press conference, the opposition leader hasn’t ruled out letting Nigel Farage join the Labour Party.
It comes after as government lawyers have confirmed the first deportation flights as part of the Rwanda scheme could take off in June.
Starmer’s stance on Rwanda ‘rank hypocrisy’ says Rishi Sunak
The Prime Minister has said Sir Keir Starmer hasn’t announced anything new.
He added: “Punching through the backlog, having more law enforcement officers do more, that’s all happening already”.
“We’ve announced all of that more than a year ago,” the prime minister adds.
“The question for Keir Starmer if he cares so much about that, why did he vote against the new laws that we passed to give our law enforcement officers new powers?
“They’ve now used those to arrest almost 8,000 people connected with illegal migration, sentenced them to hundreds of years in prison.
“And if it was up to him, all those people would be out on our streets, so I think it’s rank hypocrisy property of his position.”
Let’s recap...
If you’re joining us now here’s what you’ve missed:
- Sir Keir Starmer has outlined a plan to curve small boats crossings and crack down on people smugglers.
- The Labour leader has promised to totally scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme as it is a “gimmick”.
- During the press conference in Dover Starmer hasn’t ruled out accepting far-right politician Nigel Farage into the party.
- The Tories have clapped back at Labour with an MP slamming the plan as “already being done”.
What are the polls saying?
The Tories have lost ground after a disastrous local election.
Labour is leading the way with 44 points, according to a poll from today.
Refugee Council calls for a ‘fair’ asylum system
The Refugee Council, which provides support to asylum seekers, has urged the government to tackle applicants waiting in limbo to be processed.
CEO of the Refugee Council Enver Solomon said:“Whoever is in government must focus beyond anything else on running a fair and effective asylum system that actually processes people’s claims.
“The current system is in meltdown, with thousands of people shut out of the asylum process and living in indefinite limbo.
“Men, women and children from countries such as Afghanistan and Syria with clear protection needs face endless uncertainty, while those whose claims have been refused are not being supported to return to the countries from which they came.”
Dominic Cummings plans to replace the Tories
Beyond defections and seat losses, the Tories have a another problem to worry about.
Former advisor to Boris Johnson Dominic Cummins has unveiled a ‘Start-Up Party’ that could rival the Conservative Party.
The anti-establishment party leader has been organising focus groups to explore voter’s views.
He previously said he wants the party to be “credibly anti-insider” to “replace the Tories”.
Watch: Government’s ‘failed’ asylum system offers false hope to migrants, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK’s failed asylum system has turned refugee camps into a “job-centre for modern slavery” as he outlined Labour’s plan to stop small boat crossings on Friday 10 May.
The Labour leader delivered a speech on the Kent coast in which he attacked the government’s current approach as “rank incompetence” and dismissed the Rwanda scheme.
Sir Keir also recalled a visit to a refugee camp on the outskirts of Calais in 2016 and described the situation as a “monumental failure”.
“People had been brutally let down,” he said.
“Not just in terms of the truly awful conditions but also because the failure of our asylum system had encouraged a false hope.”
In full: Keir Starmer attacks ‘unquenchable Tory thirst for gimmicks’
The Labour leader attacked Rishi Sunak’s approach to the small boats crisis as ‘gimmicks, not serious government’ and set out the party’s own plans to crack down on people smugglers.
He promised “a new politics” on everything from small boat crossings to the economy, saying: “The character of politics will change, and through that, we will deliver higher growth, safer streets, an NHS back on its feet, more opportunity in your community, cheaper bills in your home, and secure borders for our nation.”
Politics explained: How ‘The Independent’ killed off Nadhim Zahawi’s political ambitions
The ‘boy from Baghdad’ believed he could be prime minister, says Sean O’Grady.
But his announcement that he is to step down at the general election puts an end to that dream.
His departure from Westminster life, thanks in part to our investigation of his tax affairs, will remain an instructive political fable.
Natalie Elphicke still getting ‘punches’ despite apology
Labour MP Jess Philipps has said Natalie Elphicke’s defection was “like being punched in the gut”.
The former Tory MP ignited a huge wave of backlash after comments defending her ex-husband emerged.
Jess says the apology was “an absolute start, but is also a bare minimum”.
She added: “I’m going to give her a chance to talk to me personally. There is a part of that statement about abuse and harm that he caused to her as well.
“I’m not saying that to excuse her. I am saying that because I think that she provides us with a lesson of how we could actually prevent this going forward and have some sort of cultural shift.
“So I don’t excuse her and I will give her, like I would with any woman, I will give her a fair chance.”
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper hits back at Cleverly
Earlier today James Cleverly posted a statement slamming Keir Starmer for his approach on small boats crossings.
He posted the comment with a snap of an FT article titled “Yvette Cooper urges ‘immoral’ UK to take 10,000 refugees”.
The shadow Home Secretary has now clapped back.
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