Starmer's 'delusional' migration plan dismissed by EU diplomats

Starmer

European diplomats have hit out at Sir Keir Starmer's new plan for migration, dismissing the strategy as "delusional".

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Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 15/09/2023

- 09:37

Updated: 15/09/2023

- 09:47

While Starmer has said he would negotiate a deal that would not see tens of thousands of migrants come to the UK, insiders within the EU itself dismissed the plan

European diplomats have hit out at Sir Keir Starmer's new plan for migration, dismissing the strategy as "delusional".

The Labour leader unveiled his new plan to tackle illegal migration, which will involve a cross-border approach to tackling the gangs.


He said he is planning to seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who arrive in Britain. This could involve the UK agreeing to a quota of migrants it will be forced to accept from the EU each year.

Suella Braverman dismissed the plan, warning that it would "let Brussels decide who comes to the UK".

\u200bSuella Braverman

Suella Braverman dismissed the plan, warning that it would "let Brussels decide who comes to the UK"

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She said it would "make Britain the dumping ground for many of the millions of illegal migrants that Europe doesn't want."

The Home Secretary added: "And none of this will stop the boats."

While Starmer has said he would negotiate a deal that would not see tens of thousands of migrants come to the UK, insiders within the EU itself dismissed the plan.

One EU source told the Times there is "absolutely no question of helping the UK" until the bloc has resolved its own issues with its "broken" asylum-sharing system.

In his first significant intervention on the issue of migration, Starmer said he would expand the use of serious crime prevention orders, which can be used to restrict the movement of individuals and freeze assets.

Starmer's tougher stance on migration comes as the Labour Party sits 18 points ahead of the Tories, exclusive polling for GB News shows.

Matthew Goodwin, professor of politics at the University of Kent, the polls reflect "the continued weakness of the Tory brand."


Unlike normal sentencing, serious crime prevention orders can be applied to suspects before they have been convicted.

The Labour leader promised to expand the use of serious crime prevention orders, which can be used to restrict the movement of individuals and freeze assets.

Starmer explained: "They’ve been used, these powers, for terrorism, for drug trafficking, but they’ve never been used for serious, organised immigration crime.

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The Labour leader promised to expand the use of serious crime prevention orders, which can be used to restrict the movement of individuals and freeze assets

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"My own view is that they should be used for that."

The latest poll from People Polling for GB News saw 41 per cent of people say they'd vote Labour and 23 per cent say they'd vote Conservative.

It also reveals Reform has edged ahead of the Liberal Democrats, with Reform on 10 points and the Lib Dems on 9.

People Polling asked 1,900 Brits how they would vote in the next General Election. Polling was conducted on September 13.

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