A recent report suggests that Keir Starmer’s strategy to challenge Nigel Farage involves enhancing a pact with France and reducing small boat crossings by 75%. Charles Clarke, a former Labour Home Secretary, has advocated for a practical and compassionate approach. Poll findings indicate that nearly half of voters would back admitting up to 50,000 asylum seekers in the UK under a ‘one in, one out’ agreement.
Starmer is moving forward with an agreement made with French President Emmanuel Macron, which entails returning small boat arrivals in exchange for individuals with valid asylum claims. While the initial limit is set at 50 per week, British Future recommends increasing this by 10 to 20 times. The Home Office has revealed that the first returns are imminent, despite facing a temporary halt by the High Court on one planned deportation.
A study by British Future proposes expanding the intake to potentially 50,000 refugees in an organized manner through the English Channel, backed by public support as part of a new deal where France agrees to take back unauthorized crossers. The report suggests that this approach could significantly reduce the number of boat incidents, drawing parallels to Joe Biden’s success in reducing illegal crossings from Mexico by 81% in a year.
The report urges the government to aim for a 75% decrease in small boat arrivals over the next three years. It suggests that Macron would prefer collaborating with Starmer rather than a successor keen on confrontation. Ipsos polling reveals that a majority of adults support a ‘one in, one out’ deal, even with a cap of 50,000 asylum seekers.
Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, emphasizes the need for a proactive plan by the new Home Secretary to tackle small boat challenges effectively. Drawing on Biden’s approach in the US, the report highlights the impact of regulated legal pathways and enhanced cooperation. It criticizes Farage’s proposal to repatriate refugees to oppressive regimes and warns of the repercussions of leaving the Refugee Convention.
The Home Office emphasizes its commitment to combatting immigration system abuses and enhancing international partnerships. The UK-France Treaty is facilitating the detention and return of small boat arrivals, with the ‘one in, one out’ scheme set to commence soon. Despite a recent interim order from the High Court, government officials remain optimistic about the deal’s progress.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has expressed disappointment over the court’s decision regarding an Eritrean man but remains confident in the pact’s overall implementation.
