Yvette Cooper, Labor’s Home Secretary spokesperson, criticized the Conservative government’s controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
- She said no asylum seeker flights to Rwanda have actually taken off under the Conservatives
- Cooper claimed the policy has already cost British taxpayers over £300 million
- She argued that Labor would take a different approach if elected, including:
- Improving border security to stop illegal crossings
- Faster processing of asylum claims
- Strengthening cooperation with European countries
Will Labor’s promised changes fix the UK’s immigration challenges if they take power? Read on to learn more.
Conservative Government’s Rwanda Deportation Plan
The Conservative government wanted to start deporting asylum seekers who arrived in the UK illegally to Rwanda to have their claims processed there. But Yvette Cooper slammed this policy, saying:
“There are no planes taking off under the Conservatives. They’ve sent more home secretaries to Rwanda than they have asylum seekers.
She said the Conservatives have spent two and a half years and £300 million on this plan, but not a single asylum seeker has actually been deported to Rwanda yet.
Labor’s Proposed Immigration Changes
Cooper outlined some of the changes Labor would make to immigration and asylum policies if they win power:
Improved Border Security
Labor wants to create a new “border security command” with up to 1,000 new officers focused on cracking down on criminal gangs smuggling migrants into the UK illegally.
Faster Asylum Claim Processing
Currently, Cooper says the Conservatives are allowing asylum seekers to stay in the UK indefinitely in hotels paid for by taxpayers because cases aren’t being processed. Labor promises to clear this backlog with a “fast-track decision-making system” for claims from safe countries.
Closer Cooperation With Europe
While rejecting an EU quota system for relocating asylum seekers, Cooper said Labor would seek a new security agreement allowing the sharing of intelligence to stop smuggling gangs and potentially negotiate a deal for returning some asylum seekers to Europe.
Key Immigration Debate Issues
Some key points of disagreement and debate around Labor’s proposed immigration policies include:
- Whether faster asylum processing would actually lead to more people being allowed to stay in the UK
- The feasibility of deporting more asylum seekers who arrive from safe countries
- How much cooperation Europe would agree to, and if Labor would accept relocating some asylum seekers to other European nations
The Conservatives have accused Labor of planning to allow many more asylum seekers into Britain. However, Cooper insisted this is a “misunderstanding,” arguing that their policies would crack down on illegal immigration while upholding the UK’s obligations.
Only time will tell if either party can solve the UK’s complex immigration challenges if elected. What solutions would you like to see?
