logo

Keir Starmer faces three demands to tackle small boats at EU leaders summit

Daily Mirror18-05-2025

EU leaders will descend on London today, and the Refugee Council has called on governments to agree a string of steps to tackle small boats in the Channel
Keir Starmer must use today's crunch EU talks to agree radical steps to tackle small boat crossings, campaigners say.
So far at least 11 people have died this year trying to cross the Channel and more than 12,000 have reached the UK in dangerous vessels. The PM has been urged to expand safe routes and compel European leaders to take back people with an active asylum claim in their country.

A damning report by the Refugee Council today says the current enforcement approach is not working. Jon Featonby, chief policy analyst, at the charity, said: 'The Government is right to tackle the awful gangs that profiteer from desperate people who are simply trying to find safety.

"But the fact remains, that these measures alone are so far not achieving the intended outcome, with deadly crossings rising. Most men, women and children taking these journeys are fleeing countries like Sudan, where war is forcing them from their homes.
"No one risks their life on a flimsy boat in the Channel unless they are running from horrors more acute than what they find on the sea."
A report by the Refugee Council demands leaders create a new way for people to travel safely to claim asylum, with a focus on family reunion. It also said people in the UK should be returned to other EU countries if they already have an active asylum case under consideration.
And the document says the UK should agree to become part of a "solidarity mechanism" - meaning it will help out EU countries struggling to accommodate asylum claims.
Mr Featonby said: 'These rising numbers mean the Government must immediately move from enforcement-only to a comprehensive approach which also includes cross-national co-operation and ensuring refugees can access safe and legal pathways."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chancellor announces funding for Acorn carbon capture project
Chancellor announces funding for Acorn carbon capture project

Western Telegraph

time14 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Chancellor announces funding for Acorn carbon capture project

The Acorn facility had been overlooked by successive UK governments in recent years in favour of investment elsewhere. But the project – which will store carbon emissions from across Scotland under the North Sea – is in line for 'development funding' from the UK Government, according to the Chancellor's spending review announced on Wednesday. Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Reeves said: 'Today, I can announce support for the Acorn project in Aberdeenshire, supporting Scotland's transition from oil and gas to low carbon technology. 'A challenge and an opportunity well understood by the leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar and the Scottish Secretary.' It is not clear from the 136-page document released by the Treasury how much funding the project will be given, a fact criticised by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn. 'The SNP has campaigned for investment in Scottish carbon capture for over a decade, so it is welcome that after years of Westminster delays and funding snubs we have finally secured a measure of progress towards making the Acorn project a reality to create jobs and investment for our communities,' he said. 'However, the glaring omission in today's announcement was any detail on the scale of funding and the timescales for delivery which stands in stark contrast to the £22 billion commitment the Labour Government has already given to carbon capture projects in England. 'Westminster has had 20 years to hammer out the detail on Scottish carbon capture, so it must now deliver meaningful funding and concrete support at pace.' Urging the UK Government to display 'a seriousness about Scotland's energy industry', Mr Flynn added: 'You cannot secure economic growth, energy security and net zero without harnessing the existing skills we have in our offshore industries and without proper investment in key projects like Acorn – the SNP will always demand our resources are used to the benefit the people of Scotland and an end to the absurd circumstances whereby energy bills are going up in our energy-rich country while energy jobs are going down.' Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick welcomed the news, saying he hoped the funding would 'allow work to proceed on the project's preliminary stages and move it forward'. The Chancellor also announced up to £750 million in funding for the creation of a supercomputer at Edinburgh University which could be one of the most powerful in the world. The plan had previously been scrapped by Ms Reeves in the early weeks of her Government taking office. The Chancellor also announced the Scottish Government would receive an average block grant of £50.9 billion per year over the next three years. Announcing the outcome of the spending review, Ms Reeves laid out increased funding for the NHS and housing, stretching into the billions. However, it remains unclear how the announcements will impact Scottish Government budgets this year. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar praised the spending review as 'game-changing', adding: 'The plans set out today will bring billions of pounds of investment to Scotland, on top of the record budget settlement delivered in the budget. 'From the Acorn Project to a national supercomputer in Edinburgh to our defence industry, this Labour Government is investing in Scotland's future while the SNP carps from the sidelines.'

John Swinney challenged to fix Scotland's housing emergency as Holyrood handed billlions in funding
John Swinney challenged to fix Scotland's housing emergency as Holyrood handed billlions in funding

Daily Record

time15 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

John Swinney challenged to fix Scotland's housing emergency as Holyrood handed billlions in funding

SNP ministers have been urged to launch a "housing revolution" to end the rise in homelessness in recent years. John Swinney has been challenged to finally fix Scotland's housing emergency after the UK Government announced a multi-billion pound investment to build more affordable homes. Rachel Reeves confirmed today that £39 billion will be spent over the next 10 years in England to boost the supply of properties available for social and mid-market rent. ‌ The Chancellor announced the Scottish Government will receive £52 billion in total over the next three years, which means an additional £9 billion for Holyrood coffers by 2029. ‌ It comes as Swinney today announced Mairi McAllan would serve as the new Cabinet Secretary for Housing. The Nationalists have faced repeated criticism after the number of new build properties has dropped year-on-year at a time of rising homelessness. Housebuilders and homelessness charities now want SNP ministers to adopt a similar long-term plan on increasing the number of new homes in Scotland. Sally Thomas, chief executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFGA), called on Holyrood to "seize the opportunity". She said: "The Spending Review represents a considerable boost for housing in England and enables the Scottish Government to back the country's housing associations on a long-term basis. "We expect the Scottish Government to seize this opportunity and chart a course out of the housing emergency by introducing a multi-year funding package for housing associations. "It's time to end the uncertainty of budgets which change one year from the next and empower our housing associations to build a better future for everyone who needs a safe, warm and affordable home.' ‌ Sean Clerkin, campaign coordinator for the Scottish Tenants Organisation, said: "The Spending Review can be a watershed moment in tackling the housing emergency in Scotland. "£39 billion will be invested in social and affordable housing in Britain over 10 years. We urge that all of the resultant Barnet consequentials for Scotland be spent on building tens of thousands of new social rented homes, and renovating thousands of empty thousands of homes. "The Scottish Government must engage in an immediate housing revolution to tackle the housing and homeless emergency. "We can no longer tolerate the thousands of homeless people being stuck for years in substandard and squalid temporary accommodation especially the 10,300 children whose lives are being ruined."

Government to ‘take forward our ambitions' for Northern Powerhouse Rail
Government to ‘take forward our ambitions' for Northern Powerhouse Rail

Western Telegraph

time15 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Government to ‘take forward our ambitions' for Northern Powerhouse Rail

Rachel Reeves said plans will be published shortly. NPR is a scheme to improve rail services between Liverpool and Leeds, which often suffer delays and cancellations. £445m Funding boost for railways in Wales Chancellor Rachel Reeves The previous Conservative government's Integrated Rail Plan sparked outrage among northern leaders in November 2021, when it said that a new line would only be built on one section, and the rest of the route would get enhancements to existing lines. Ms Reeves said: 'In the coming weeks I will set out this Government's plan to take forward our ambitions for Northern Powerhouse Rail.' The Chancellor announced £3.5 billion more funding to support the TransPennine Route Upgrade, a project to improve the railway between York and Manchester. She said the Government would provide £2.5 billion of additional funding to enable the 'continued delivery' of East West Rail, a new line between Oxford and Cambridge. In her spending review she also said railways in Wales would get £445 million investment over 10 years. Improvements at Cardiff West Junction and Padeswood sidings will be among those to be funded. Ms Reeves told the Commons: 'For 14 years, the Conservatives failed the people of Wales. 'Those days are over.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store