Labour stands by decision to scrap £290million Rwanda deportations scheme after Germany proposes EU takeover
By David Wilcock, Deputy Political Editor and Elizabeth Haigh
Labour has defended its choice to end the £290 million Rwanda deportations scheme, following a suggestion from Germany that the EU should take over facilities funded by UK taxpayers to accommodate its own unwanted migrants.
The scheme, initiated by the previous Tory government, was labeled an ‘expensive gimmick’ by No10 amid a growing political dispute over one of Keir Starmer’s initial actions as Prime Minister.
Berlin’s migration commissioner, Joachim Stamp, has put forward a plan to deport those who illegally enter the EU through Poland’s border with Belarus to Rwanda. He recommends utilizing hostels established with British funds, which Rwanda has declined to reimburse.
German ambassador Manuel Berger clarified that asylum seekers would not be permanently sent to East Africa but discussions were ongoing regarding ‘processing asylum applications in third countries under international humanitarian law and with support of the United Nations.’
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to lead a summit today aimed at dismantling criminal gangs involved in smuggling people from France in small boats, following the deadliest crossing of the year.
The meeting will include senior ministers, figures from the National Crime Agency (NCA), and intelligence services. It comes after at least 12 individuals died while attempting to cross the channel on Tuesday, with more than 70 people crammed onto a small dinghy bound for England.
Tory leadership frontrunner Robert Jenrick accused Labour of abandoning ‘the one credible deterrent’ against Channel migrant boats. He emphasized the importance of having a deterrent to discourage illegal crossings.
Border Security Minister Angela Eagle countered by stating that the Rwanda scheme was ineffective and costly, with only four volunteers willing to go to Rwanda. She highlighted the need for removals as a key deterrent for migrants in France.
The Home Secretary expressed determination to dismantle criminal smuggling networks and ensure a fair, firm, and functioning asylum system. The summit will focus on analyzing gang capabilities, collaborating with European agencies like Europol, and enhancing border security measures.
Following a tragic incident off the coast of Le Portel, Ms. Cooper expressed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the urgency of dismantling criminal smuggling gangs to prevent further tragedies. The UK coastguards were not involved in the rescue effort due to the incident’s proximity to France.
As of now, there have been 21,977 arrivals by small boats in 2024, a 3% increase from last year but 20% lower than in 2022. The cumulative number of arrivals in the past nine days is the highest so far this year, with 2,683 arrivals recorded.