Keir Starmer halts Rwanda deportation plan on first day as UK Prime Minister
The deportation scheme became a significant issue during the election campaign, with Starmer pledging to terminate it.
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On his first day in office, new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer halted a controversial plan to deport refugees to Rwanda.
This plan, initiated under Prime Minister Boris Johnson and continued by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, faced extensive legal challenges and had not yet seen any flights depart.
The deportation scheme became a significant issue during the election campaign, with Starmer pledging to terminate it.
Labour insiders have confirmed that the Conservative Party’s plan to deport migrants who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda is effectively "dead."
Illegal immigration is set to be a top priority for Starmer’s government, especially with a surge in small boat crossings expected over the summer.
French President Emmanuel Macron, crucial to Labour’s strategy for tackling the issue, was reportedly the first world leader to call Starmer, speaking with him on Thursday evening.
New Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced on Friday that one of the government's primary objectives is to "keep our borders secure." She emphasized her intent to establish a new border security command during her initial meetings with officials.
The UK could end the Rwanda scheme by invoking a breach clause in the agreement, which allows both governments to withdraw.
Activating this clause would cease any further payments from the UK Government from the date of activation.
