Labour is reportedly considering a scheme that would see asylum seekers’ claims processed elsewhere.
Keir Starmer is mulling “detailed plans” for an offshoring scheme as he seeks to deter Tory attacks on Labour’s alternative to the Rwanda plan, the Times said on Monday.
The Labour leader has previously dismissed the plan to deport people to the African nation as a “gimmick” and made clear his party’s opposition.
However, the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock have reportedly been speaking to asylum experts, former home secretary David Blunkett and other European countries to draw up an alternative proposal to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The Labour leader has previously dismissed the plan to deport people to the African nation as a “gimmick” and made clear his party’s opposition.
While explicit backing for an offshoring scheme would mark a significant shift for Labour, Starmer did signal earlier this month that he would not be opposed to considering such an approach.
Labour has been contacted for comment about the report, which claims that the party has drawn up “three tests” for the scheme – that it is cost-effective, credible enough to deter migrants and would avoid the legal challenges that have delayed the Rwanda plan.
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the home secretary, James Cleverly, are hoping fresh legislation, now in the Commons, will be enough to revive the flagship policy after it was declared unlawful by the supreme court earlier this year.
A Labour “red line” would be any scheme that would automatically block migrants being granted asylum in the UK, according to the Times, and British officials would be required to be in charge of processing claims.
In the early 2000s, Blunkett and the Tony Blair government were believed to be in talks with Tanzania about the possibility of housing asylum seekers in the country while claims were processed in the UK.
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