The controversial Rwanda deportation scheme, which aimed to deter illegal immigration by sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, has been officially abandoned. “The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started… I’m not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don’t act as a deterrent,” declared Sir Keir Starmer at his first news conference following Labour’s electoral victory.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had heavily promoted the plan as a key component of his “stop the boats” campaign, despite facing significant opposition from human rights groups and numerous judicial setbacks. Labour, however, has committed to scrapping the scheme, which targeted individuals crossing the English Channel from northern France.
Immigration has emerged as a pivotal political issue in the UK, particularly following the country’s departure from the European Union in 2020, which was largely predicated on promises to “take back control” of national borders. Starmer criticized Sunak’s policy for being neither effective as a deterrent nor financially prudent.
Instead, Starmer has pledged to address the issue “upstream” by targeting the criminal networks responsible for human smuggling. A central element of Labour’s new strategy is the establishment of an “elite” Border Security Command. This unit will integrate immigration and law enforcement specialists, along with MI5, the domestic intelligence service, to tackle illegal crossings more effectively.
The UK Home Office reported that an estimated 12,313 people have crossed the Channel to Britain so far this year, marking an 18 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Despite this rise, the total number of arrivals in 2023 was 29,437, a 36 percent decrease from the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
Starmer’s approach signifies a shift towards more comprehensive and collaborative methods in managing immigration, aiming to reduce illegal crossings while ensuring national security and upholding human rights.
