Rishi Sunak aims to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, paying Paul Kagame’s government to relieve the UK of the burden. Sir Keir Starmer advocates for a return to a multilateral system centered around a restored partnership with the EU.
Labour’s recently unveiled immigration and asylum policy draws a clear distinction between the two parties. Although the issue has lost some of its significance, there has been a decline in public support for reducing immigration, according to thinktank British Future, falling from 67% in 2015 to 48% now. However, the escalating rhetoric surrounding small boat crossings has made it a notable issue, especially among Conservative voters, ensuring its relevance in the upcoming election.
Recognizing the electoral challenge posed by this issue, Labour has taken an offensive position. The party acknowledges that there are no foolproof solutions, but by signaling their willingness to participate in an EU-wide quota system in exchange for an agreement on Channel migrants, and emphasizing the UK’s obligation to consider applications rather than offshore them, Sir Keir indicates a change in direction. In contrast, the Conservative government hopes their deportation plan to Rwanda will win approval from the supreme court in the next month, despite legal setbacks. Labour, however, firmly opposes the impractical and inhumane strategy of sending refugees to Rwanda.
Instead of the Conservatives’ unprecedented offshoring project, Labour proposes a return to the fundamentals. The commitment to recruit 1,000 new staff members to handle applications and raise their competence level and pay is a solid pledge. The promise of temporary courts to address the backlog sounds promising as well, although challenges in the legal system may cause delays and shortages. The current situation, leaving thousands of individuals in limbo, is both inhumane and wasteful.
It remains uncertain whether the EU is willing to cooperate with Sir Keir as he hopes, as the bloc grapples with its own internal disputes over quotas. Nevertheless, given the magnitude of the challenge, Labour’s proposition for cooperation is well-considered. Just over a year ago, Liz Truss expressed uncertainty about whether President Emmanuel Macron was a “friend or foe” to Britain. Labour’s message is seemingly designed to expose such misguided posturing. Even if an EU agreement is distant, it should enhance the prospects of bilateral cooperation with France.
However, treating people smugglers as terrorists is a contentious matter. Asylum seekers deserve compassion, especially considering the atrocities they escape in places like Libya. Sir Keir’s pledge to “smash” the criminal networks appears to be an attempt to match the government’s tough stance. It should be possible to hold those responsible for unsafe journeys accountable without labeling all individuals involved in boat crossings as potential terrorists.
In the UK and beyond, the humanitarian principles outlined in the 1951 UN convention on refugees face imminent threat. The Conservatives seek to outsource the UK’s international obligations and encourage poorer countries to establish asylum markets. Labour’s alternative policy may not be flawless, but it is vastly preferable: to rebuild our broken system here.
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