Labour's Migration Plan: Small Dividends?

Sir Keir Starmer called the Rwanda Plan "Dead and buried". The Rwanda Plan was the Tory government's plan to deal with migrant boaters sailing across the channel in overloaded dinghies. The plan was to fly out so many migrants to the African nation of Rwanda. On coming to power, Sir Keir was as good as his word, he scrapped the scheme and saved money. Mr. Starmer said the money would be redirected into Labour's plan to deal with migrants.

I outlined Labour's plans to tackle migration and immigration yesterday so I will not go into it again. However, an ex-UK Border Force person gave an analysis of Labour's plans. Tony Smith, a former Director of the UK Border Force said Labour's plans would result in "modest removals". Also, a return agreement with the European Agreement would be needed. So, that migrants could be returned to France from whence they came (although of course, they are not Native French).

Tony Smith spoke about Labour's plans to reopen detention centres and more staffing for the NCA or National Crime Agency (the UK's FBI as it were). Mr. Smith said he thought that these actions showed the government is serious about tackling this issue. He admitted Labour's task would be an uphill struggle and a vast challenge.

There is, however, criticism of Labour's plans as you might expect. Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said he backed Labour's plans but it was not enough. Robert Jenrick a Tory who is standing to succeed Rishi Sunak, said he would bring back the Rwanda scheme. A local MP representing one of the areas where these detention centres will be recommissioned has said these centres will not work. The MP is also campaigning on behalf of residents who do not want these centres on their doorsteps. The centres themselves have a dark history when they were originally open. However, let us hope that Labour treats the detainees well but at the same time, the government must keep its promise to remove illegals.

Mr. Smith said while the now scrapped Rwanda Scheme would have targeted people from higher intake countries Labour's plans will remove a smaller cohort of people with no right to remain. Labour said it wants to decrease exponentially the number of people coming to Britain. Also, increase those deemed illegal and with no right to be in the UK.

There is one pro quo, however, those labelled for return often cannot be returned to countries where their lives were allegedly in danger. Those who have fled Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, for example. The Tory government struggled with this and maybe, Labour will too.

Yvette Cooper and the Home Office must find some way around this. If she cannot return these people to a country where their lives are in danger perhaps somewhere else. But wouldn't we be in the Rwanda Plan territory again?

Labour right now is walking a tightrope of public opinion. With the recent Native Brit riots Mr. Starmer has come down on these rioters hard. And rightly so, for the damage and destruction these people have wrought. Mr. Starmer has called them far right and so many of them were. However, many turned out because they were desperate people.

People who are fed up with being ignored, labelled gammon and racist or yt (white), yobs, fed up with price rises in energy and their shopping. These people have suffered 14 years of Tory austerity, corruption, etc. Many of them voted Labour for a better Britain. Now they find themselves being hammered by a government that promised them relief.

I agree with the prison sentences for some of those people. However, Mr. Starmer has been accused of two-tier policing when it came to cracking down on Native Brit protests. Then a different approach to policing left-wing and Muslim counter-protests. Sir Keir must address the woes of these Native Brit riots. If not, these issues will come up again and again.

So Labour is serious about tackling illegal migrants. Whether the boats will be stopped, whether the gangs exploiting these unfortunates will be smashed and the issues of Native Brits addressed, remains to be seen.

We will know in 5 years over the shelf life of this present government. If not, the likes of Farage and Reform and even the extreme wings of the Tories will grow.