Campaigners Oppose Keir Starmer's Controversial Migrant Return Plan

Campaigners have threatened to impede Sir Keir Starmer's perceived "pathetic" proposal aimed at sending migrants arriving on small boats back to France. Fizza Qureshi, Chief Executive of the Migrants' Rights Network, emphasized that the charity opposes the UK-France agreement and is prepared to assist those at risk of deportation in contesting their removal in court. Care4Calais, noted for its previous efforts to halt the Rwanda scheme under the last government, indicated that it would explore all available avenues to oppose any initiatives they believe would jeopardize lives and treat humans as commodities.

In response to the criticism, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labeled the plan as "pathetic," suggesting it may be derailed by legal challenges from "activist" lawyers and charities perceived as promoting illegal immigration into the UK. He expressed regret over Starmer's decision to scrap the Rwanda deterrent scheme before its implementation, arguing that it could have significantly curbed illegal crossings and removed unauthorized immigrants unaffected by court interventions. Philp suggested that Starmer's actions stem from weakness and a misguided allegiance to human rights lawyers, claiming this stance fails to protect Britain's borders effectively.

The new agreement between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron would, for the first time, allow the UK to return migrants to France in exchange for asylum seekers with connections to Britain. This pilot scheme is set to commence soon, though it still requires final legal clearance from the EU. Downing Street has expressed confidence that Brussels will support the deal, despite concerns from certain European nations regarding the potential repatriation of migrants back to their home countries.

While specific details regarding the number of individuals included in the pilot have yet to be disclosed, French officials suggested it might start with about 50 returnees weekly—significantly less than the current average of 782 weekly crossings. A spokesman for the European Commission confirmed that they would assess the specifics of the proposed cooperation between France and the UK, ensuring compliance with EU law. Meanwhile, a Number 10 representative affirmed that the government has prepared a robust legal strategy for the arrangement, asserting that both domestic and international laws would be upheld.

In recent developments, 353 migrants successfully crossed the English Channel on July 11, though this figure marked a decline from the previous day's 573 crossings. The trend indicates a significant number of crossings for the year, with at least 21,000 individuals having undertaken this perilous journey since January, suggesting that 2025 could mark a record year for such arrivals.