The new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Saturday (July 6th) that he will cancel a controversial plan aimed at sending asylum seekers from the UK to the African country of Rwanda. This marks Starmer’s first major policy announcement since winning the UK election.
The previous UK government first announced the Rwanda plan in 2022, intending to send illegal immigrants who arrive in the UK without permission to this East African country, with the aim of ending the phenomenon of asylum seekers arriving in small boats.
According to Reuters, in his first press conference as Prime Minister, Starmer stated that the Rwanda policy would be scrapped as it has proven ineffective as a deterrent.
During the press conference held at 10 Downing Street, Starmer answered around a dozen questions and was repeatedly asked how and when he would fulfill his promises to address the country’s issues, but he did not disclose specific details.
Preventing asylum seekers from crossing illegally into the UK was a key theme in the UK election campaign. While supporters of the Rwanda plan argued that it would disrupt the business of human traffickers, critics viewed it as unethical and unlikely to work.
In dealing with the issue of irregular migrants, Starmer stated that his government would establish a Border Security Command, bringing together police, domestic intelligence agencies, and prosecutors to collaborate with international organizations to combat human trafficking.
On Friday (July 5th), the Labour Party emerged victorious in the election, leading to Starmer’s successful appointment as the UK Prime Minister. On the same day, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged his defeat, announcing his resignation from the positions of Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party.