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The Labour leader said he would scrap the scheme even if it brings down the number of small boat crossings because it is \u201cwrong\u201d.<\/p>\n
Supreme Court judges will today begin hearing the Government\u2019s appeal against a legal ruling that the policy is unlawful.<\/p>\n
As the Labour Party\u2019s autumn conference began in Liverpool, Sir Keir said he would reverse the deportation plan if it is up and running and he wins the election.<\/p>\n
He told the BBC: \u201cIt\u2019s the wrong policy, it\u2019s hugely expensive. It\u2019s a tiny number of individuals who would go to Rwanda and the real problem is at source.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re putting this to me on the basis that it\u2019s working, we\u2019ve been told by the Government time and again that even saying they\u2019ve got a Rwanda scheme will reduce the numbers \u2013 that hasn\u2019t happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> ‘Remarkably unsuccessful’ Keir Starmer warned fragile poll lead could vanish<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead Sir Keir said he would work with other countries to \u201csmash the criminal gangs who are running this vile trade\u201d of people smuggling.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cAs a pragmatist I want a \u00adpragmatic plan that is actually going to fix this problem, not rhetoric which has got this Government absolutely nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Senior Conservatives said the admission showed Labour was opposed to stopping illegal entrants. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: \u201cProof, if it were needed, that Labour don\u2019t even want to stop the boats.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are ideologically opposed to border controls. Their solution is to force British communities to tolerate flagrant criminality.\u201d<\/p>\n Conservative MP James Daly, a member of the Home Affairs select committee, said: \u201cKeir Starmer has finally admitted what we suspected all along, that he will open the door to illegal migrants.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> \u201cReversing the Rwanda policy even if it is working shows he doesn\u2019t care about \u00adprotecting Britain\u2019s borders.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a betrayal of the ordinary voters who want small boats stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n A Government source said: \u201cHe plans to go cap in hand to Brussels to beg for an EU quota scheme to potentially allow \u00adhundreds of thousands more migrants in.\u201d Britain paid Rwanda \u00a3140million under an asylum partnership struck in April last year, but \u00ad The first deportations were due on June 14 last year but the plane could not take off after objections against individual removals and the policy as a whole.<\/p>\n Eight asylum seekers, along with charities and the PCS union, brought legal action against the plans to give people one-way tickets to Rwanda.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n In June, Court of Appeal judges \u00adoverturned a High Court ruling that found Rwanda could be considered a \u201csafe third country\u201d.<\/p>\n Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed the system was \u201crigged against the British people\u201d after the ruling.<\/p>\n Court of Appeal judges said Rwanda had not \u00adprovided enough safeguards to prove it was a \u201csafe third country\u201d.<\/p>\n But the panel of three was split, with the most senior judge, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, backing the Government. Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill decided assurances from the Rwandan \u00adgovernment were not \u201csufficient to ensure there is no real risk asylum seekers relocated under the policy will be wrongly returned to countries where they face persecution or other inhumane treatment\u201d.<\/p>\n The Labour conference was disrupted \u00adyesterday as a protester stormed the stage moments before Angela Rayner\u2019s speech.<\/p>\n The man attempted to address the packed audience in the main hall but the \u00admicrophone was switched off.<\/p>\n He was protesting about a lack of NHS funding and continued to shout as he was approached by security before being escorted from the stage as members booed.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/5001612.jpg?r=1696840308559\")
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Rachel Reeves squirms over David Lammy cosying up to Palestine chief[POLITICS] <\/strong>
Lee Anderson mocks Diane Abbott over Labour meltdown with ten-word swipe[POLITICS] <\/strong>
Israel row explodes as calls grow for Labour to sack hard left pro-Palestine MP[POLITICS] <\/strong><\/p>\n
flights have been grounded following legal challenges by campaigners.<\/p>\n