Boris Johnson Criticizes Starmer Over US Migrant Deportation Plan

Boris Johnson has publicly criticized Sir Keir Starmer following the announcement that the United States plans to deport hundreds of illegal migrants to Rwanda. This arrangement mirrors a controversial deal that Johnson himself had negotiated while serving as Prime Minister, which was subsequently abandoned by Starmer’s government. Under the new agreement, Rwanda will accept up to 250 migrants in exchange for financial compensation, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to address illegal immigration.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Johnson expressed his dismay at Starmer’s decision to revoke the Rwanda scheme, stating, “Here is proof, if ever it were needed, that Starmer was very sadly misguided in abandoning the Rwanda scheme. It would certainly have worked and it would have scuppered the cross-Channel gangs.” He further lamented that other nations are now capitalizing on ideas first proposed by the UK, adding, “It is heartbreaking to see other countries now taking advantage – yet again – of ideas pioneered by Britain.” Johnson called for Starmer to reinstate the plan, accusing him of scrapping it purely out of “Left-wing spite.”

When Johnson was Prime Minister, he had secured a deal with the Rwandan government to send migrants arriving via the English Channel on a one-way trip to East Africa. However, after Starmer’s victory in the 2022 general election, the scheme faced several legal challenges, preventing any deportations from occurring. Starmer’s administration quickly moved to dismantle the initiative as one of its first acts in office.

The abandonment of the Rwanda plan has coincided with a significant increase in small boat crossings of the English Channel. Reports indicate that these crossings surged in recent months, highlighting the challenges facing the current government in managing immigration. In response, the Prime Minister has introduced a “one in, one out” policy intended to return small boat arrivals to France, which officially came into effect on October 1, 2023.

Opposition parties have voiced concern over this new policy, particularly given that current projections suggest only 50 individuals will be returned to France each week. This comes at a time when the average number of crossings has exceeded 800 per week, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government’s approach to tackling illegal migration.

The ongoing debate over immigration policy in the UK continues to intensify, with both sides of the political spectrum presenting starkly different visions for addressing the issue. As the situation evolves, the implications of these policies will likely have a significant impact on the broader discourse surrounding immigration in the country.