MP, Labour's Shadow Home
Secretary, responding to the Prime Minister saying that
no flights to Rwanda will happen before July, said:
“The Prime Minister's own words this morning show this whole
Rwanda scheme has been a con from start to finish.
“With all the hundreds of millions they have spent, it would be
extraordinary if 'symbolic flights' didn't take off in early
July, as the Tories planned. But Rishi Sunak's words confirm what
we've known all along - he doesn't believe this plan will work
and that's why he called the election now in the desperate hope
that he won't be found out.
“The choice at this election is between a Tory Party with no
credible plan and no grip, and a Labour government that will
deliver a fully funded Border Security Command to smash criminal
gangs and tackle dangerous boat crossings.
“It's time to turn the page on Tory chaos and choose a Labour
government that will restore our border security.”
Ends
Labour's five-point plan to reform the asylum
system:
1. Create a new elite Border Security Command, staffed by
hundreds of specialist investigators, intelligence agents, and
cross-border police officers to smash the gangs upstream
A Labour government will create a new elite Border Security
Command, modelled on the Office for Security and
Counter-Terrorism set up by the last Labour government, to
overhaul the government's approach to national security.
This will see the installation of a new Border Security Command –
a former police, military or intelligence chief – and reporting
directly to the Home Secretary, the new Command will direct work
across key intelligence and enforcement agencies with a single
aim of ensuring a strong, protected border. The operation
will put hundreds of new specialist investigators, intelligence
agents and cross-border police officers, who will support the
Border Security Command unit and work across the UK and Europe,
split across multiple agencies, including the National Crime
Agency, MI5, Border Force, CPS International and Immigration
Enforcement.
Labour will also seek to negotiate a new security agreement with
Europe, including a replacement to SIS-II, to allow for the
real-time sharing of intelligence on people smuggling suspects.
To fund this, Labour would redirect spending from the unworkable
Rwanda scheme, which the government has admitted is subject to a
very high risk of fraud.
-
End hotel use, clear the Tory asylum backlog, and speed
up returns to safe countries
Labour will save the taxpayer billions by ending the use of
hotels for asylum seekers within 12 months and setting up a new
returns unit for safe countries. Labour will recruit over 1,000
Home Office caseworkers to clear the record Tory asylum
backlog, and a further 1,000 staff for a new returns unit so
that those who do not have a right to stay here can be quickly
removed, and we end the use of costly hotels at the taxpayers'
expense. Labour will fast track decisions on applications from
safe countries, like India and Albania, which are unlikely to
be granted; and establish a new returns unit to reverse the 44%
collapse in asylum removals that the Tory Government has
overseen since 2010.
3. Reform resettlement routes to stop people being
exploited by gangs
Labour would redesign the existing resettlement schemes which
are not currently working properly so that they include a
clearer process for refugees with family connections in the UK
to be considered for resettlement, preventing them being
exploited by criminal gangs or making dangerous journeys.
4. New agreement with France and other countries on
returns and family reunion
Labour would negotiate a new agreement which includes safe
returns and safe family reunions for child refugees.
5. Tackle humanitarian crises at source helping
refugees in their region
Labour would work in partnership internationally to address
some of the humanitarian crises that are leading people to flee
their homes including restoring the 0.7% aid commitment when
the fiscal situation allows and strengthening support for the
people of Afghanistan, currently the largest group trying to
cross the Channel.
