Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to scrap plans to forcibly remove asylum seekers to Rwanda even if the policy is deemed legal by the courts and such action reduces the number of unauthorised Channel crossings.
The Labour leader was clear he would reverse the “hugely expensive” and “wrong” scheme which he said would only ever impact a very small proportion of migrants crossing the Channel.
The Supreme Court will on Monday begin hearing the Government’s appeal against the ruling that the policy is unlawful as ministers struggle to achieve Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats”.
In a BBC interview in Liverpool ahead of the Labour conference, Sir Keir was asked if he would terminate the plans even if the judges approve it and small boat crossings then decline.
“Yes. I think it’s the wrong policy, it’s hugely expensive,” he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme.
“It’s a tiny number of individuals who would go to Rwanda and the real problem is at source.
“You’re putting this to me on the basis that it’s working, we’ve been told by the Government time and again that even saying they’ve got a Rwanda scheme will reduce the numbers – that hasn’t happened.”
Instead Sir Keir said he would work with other countries to “smash the criminal gangs who are running this vile trade” of people smuggling.
“As a pragmatist I want a pragmatic plan that is actually going to fix this problem, not rhetoric which has got this Government absolutely nowhere,” he added.
Tory party chairman Greg Hands seized on the comments, arguing Sir Keir “failed to give another option” to Rwanda.
“Labour aren’t serious on the boats and making the tough choices the country needs,” he added.
