The many times Starmer criticised Rwanda scheme – before announcing own deportation plan
Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK will begin talks with other countries to host 'return hubs' for failed asylum seekers.
During his time as both leader of the opposition and Prime Minister, however, Sir Keir has been a staunch critic of the Tories' plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda.
The Prime Minister cancelled Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy on his first day in Downing Street, which is likely to prompt accusations of hypocrisy now that he is also looking to send asylum seekers to third countries.
Here, The Telegraph takes a look at Sir Keir's criticisms of the Rwanda plan.
April 14, 2022
In response to Boris Johnson's announcement of the Rwanda plan, Sir Keir said it was 'unworkable', 'extortionate' and an attempt to distract voters from Mr Johnson's partygate fine for breaching Covid rules.
November 15, 2023
Speaking in the Commons, Sir Keir called the Rwanda scheme 'the most ridiculous, pathetic spectacle of all', adding: 'Does he want to apologise to the country for wasting £140 million of cash?'
December 12, 2023
Sir Keir used a speech to say that bearing down on illegal migration was 'about doing the basics better' and that 'stopping the boats means stopping the gimmicks'.
May 10, 2024
Sir Keir told reporters: 'Every flight that goes off requires a massive cheque to be written to the Rwandan government. I want to use that money for setting up the law enforcement to break the gangs in the first place… No planes, no scheme, I'm not going to flog a dead horse.'
May 23, 2024
During the first full week of the general election campaign, Sir Keir said: 'I don't think he's ever believed that plan is going to work, and so he has called an election early enough to have it not tested before the election.'
June 27, 2024
Sir Keir told Mr Sunak during the final general election debate: 'Why are record numbers still coming under your watch, Prime Minister? How on earth can you say it's working?'
He added: 'I noticed you called the election, by the way, before any flights could actually get off, but it could be tested. Interesting timing. But if this was such a deterrent, why is it obviously not working?'
July 5, 2024
The day after Labour won the general election, sources in Sir Keir's Government told The Telegraph: 'If Rishi Sunak thought Rwanda would work, he wouldn't have called an election. It was a con. By calling an election, Sunak was acknowledging that fact.'
July 6, 2024
Sir Keir said at a press conference: 'Look at the numbers that have come over in the first six and a bit months of this year, they are record numbers, that is the problem that we are inheriting. It's had the complete opposite effect and I'm not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don't act as a deterrent.'
September 4, 2024
Sir Keir told the Commons: 'Unlike the Conservative party, we will not waste money on gimmicks. That is why, within days, we ended the Rwanda scheme and announced the launch of the border security force, and we have been preparing legislation to introduce counter-terrorism powers to tackle gangs.'
March 12, 2025
At Prime Minister's Questions, he said: 'The Rwanda scheme cost £700 million of taxpayers' money to remove four volunteers. What a contrast: we have got the flights off and removed 19,000 people who should not be here.'
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