New British Prime Minister Starmer wants to stop Rwanda deportation project
Starmer said, looking at the project of the Conservative predecessor government, "I'm not ready to continue with games that aren't deterrent," he stated. With the stop of the program, he would be fulfilling a campaign promise. The formerly opposition Labour Party had already declared in the campaign that they intended to end the program. Starmer criticized the deportation plans as neither deterrent nor financially rewarding.
The plans to deport asylum seekers who had illegally entered the UK via the English Channel to Rwanda were to be a flagship project of the now ousted Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He pushed his plans despite fierce opposition from human rights groups and courts. The British Parliament approved the plan at the end of April, and several people had already been detained for deportation.
The topic of migration has gained particular significance in the UK, especially after Brexit in 2020, and was a crucial election issue during the Parliamentary election.
The new British government faces significant domestic challenges. The population is suffering from the ailing public service sector and rising prices and is tired of empty promises from politicians. The issues with the state-run National Health Service (NHS), where patients often have to wait months for doctor's appointments or surgeries, also played a significant role in the election campaign.
Starmer expressed his excitement about "making the change happen," he added during a press conference. He stated that growth must be ensured throughout the country "so that people can live better everywhere" and announced "difficult decisions." Starting on Sunday, the new Prime Minister will travel to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Starmer held the first meeting of his new cabinet on Saturday. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, so let's get to it," Starmer told his new ministers, including the UK's first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and the new Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who is of Guyanese descent.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) congratulated Starmer on his election victory. Both leaders agreed that the relationship between the UK and European states would have special significance, according to a statement from Starmer's office on Saturday after the call between the politicians. "The Federal Chancellor explicitly welcomed the intention of the British Prime Minister to give the bilateral relations with Germany a new impetus." They agreed to deepen cooperation between their governments.
In his first call with US President Joe Biden, Starmer pledged "unlimited" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Starmer and Biden reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment to Ukraine," according to a statement from Starmer's office on Friday. The Premier emphasized that the UK would "unconditionally support Ukraine."
- Starmer referred to the Rwanda deportation project, a flagship initiative of the former Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, stating he wasn't inclined to continue with questionable deterrent strategies.
- The Labour Party, now in power with Starmer as Premier, had vowed during the election campaign to terminate the Rwanda deportation project due to its lack of effectiveness and financial feasibility.
- The topic of immigration, particularly following Brexit in 2020, emerged as a prominent issue in the Parliamentary election, with many migrants trying to enter Great Britain illegally via the English Channel.
- The Conservative government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda faced strong opposition from human rights groups and courts, with critics arguing that it violates international law and is inhumane.
- As part of his new government's agenda, Starmer announced that he would make difficult decisions to ensure growth and improve living standards throughout Great Britain.
- With the election of Starmer as Premier and his new cabinet taking office, including Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, and David Lammy as the new Foreign Secretary, there is a new approach to bilateral relations with European nations, such as Germany.
- Scholz, the German Federal Chancellor, congratulated Starmer on his election victory and expressed his hope for strengthening the relationship between the UK and European states, with a particular focus on deepening cooperation between their governments.
- In his first call with US President Joe Biden, Starmer reaffirmed the UK's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, emphasizing that the country would "unconditionally support Ukraine."
