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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Labour won't be forgiven for failing to tackle immigration
If the 2024 election was in part a rebuke of the Conservative Party's total failure to control migration, 2029 is shaping up to be a far more painful experience for the Labour party. Sir Keir Starmer may have hoped that his immigration white paper, coupled with the fall in net migration triggered by the last policies put in place by the outgoing Tory government, would buy him breathing space until the salience of migration fell again, and he would be freed to talk about other topics. If so, this week should have shredded any such illusions. Both legal and illegal migration are running out of control, with justifiable public anger over the scale of the Government's failure to impose order. More than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel on Saturday while British and French rescue boats stood by to escort them in. So great was the demand to be transported into Dover that coast guards put out appeals for fishing boats to assist vessels in trouble as Border Force and lifeboats were overwhelmed by the effort of rescuing migrants. Stunning images from France, meanwhile, showed the value of Sir Keir Starmer's much vaunted European cooperation in 'smashing the criminal gangs'. French police were seen simply standing by and watching as migrants loaded their boat for the crossing. The current situation is a travesty in which migrants are encouraged to endanger themselves in order to manufacture a rescue on to British shores, while the French state – which has no greater wish to play host and benefactor to these people than Britain does – does little to stop them. Sir Keir cannot divest himself of blame for this absurdity. His scrapping of the Rwanda deterrent directly removed one of the few ways in which Britain could bring itself to diminish the flow. As a career human rights lawyer and Left-wing activist, the Prime Minister is almost uniquely ill-suited to the task of devising an alternative. He has surrounded himself with like-minded individuals, not least the Attorney General Richard Hermer, and set as his North star the gold-plated adherence to the outdated international rules that allow the vile trade in people to be carried out. If Britain wishes to smash the gangs, it must smash the incentives that bring people here, tackling illegal employment, particularly in the gig economy, radically tightening the criteria for asylum, deporting those whose claims are denied, reducing the grounds for appeal, and ultimately revisiting the idea of a system in which claimants who arrive illegally are transferred to a safe third country. The current illegal migration system suits no one. It enriches dangerous criminals, selects those who have the resources to make the journey to Britain rather than those most imperilled, undermines public safety and support for legal migration, and will, if unchecked, destroy what sympathy for the refugee convention remains. This would be a tragedy. Britain is a country that is open to those who are genuinely in need. It is the task of the Government to make sure that this hospitality, and the taxpayer, are not taken advantage of. Yet even on legal migration – supposedly filtered and controlled – the evidence is that it is manifestly failing to do so. Figures published this week show that the state is handing nearly £1 billion each month in Universal Credit payments to households containing at least one foreign national. While some may have married British nationals, the fact that these payments have doubled over the past three years suggests that something has gone badly wrong at the heart of our benefits system. Despite the apparent beliefs of many in Westminster, Britain is not the world's welfare state. Moreover, the rationale for migration is not that it is good for the migrant, but that it is good for Britain. The people of this country accept willingly new members who pay their way, contribute, and work to assimilate into our society. To find ourselves instead asked to pay for the upkeep of those who arrived on our shores courtesy of a system that was supposed to provide economic and fiscal strength is an illustration of utter failure. Just as measures must be taken to control illegal migration, the flow of low-skilled, low prospect migrants into Britain must also be curtailed. The criteria for entry should be considerably tightened, eligibility for benefits confined to those with citizenship, and pathways to both that status and indefinite leave to remain tightened considerably, with rules put in place to ensure that only those who make a positive fiscal contribution qualify. The legitimacy of the British state is based on the consent of the governed to the rule of their elected representatives. After 15 years of votes to lower migration, and 15 years of broken promises, patience is beginning to wear thin, with surging support for Reform UK emblematic of an increasing rejection of the current political establishment. Unless Sir Keir can find the iron within himself to crack down on both legal and illegal migration, he is unlikely to be granted a second term in Downing Street.
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Angela Rayner ramps up Labour party in-fighting with another thinly-veiled attack on Rachel Reeves
Rein in Rayner WITH friends like Angela Rayner, who needs enemies? The Deputy Prime Minister has ramped up Labour party in-fighting with another thinly-veiled attack on Chancellor Rachel Reeves. 1 Yesterday she was forced to deny she ever wants to be party leader, after the leak of a memo showing her apparently backing more tax hikes rather than the spending cuts proposed by The PM and his floundering Chancellor. But she used a TV interview to undermine Ms Reeves further by suggesting early answers on the reinstatement of winter fuel payments for pensioners. She also hit out at stagnant wages, job insecurity, the soaring cost of living and rising housing costs, which she blamed on the last Tory government but which she well knows are all worsening under the current Chancellor's stewardship. The memo, which Ms Rayner denies leaking, has been seen as a move to boost her standing with Labour left-wingers threatening to revolt against welfare cuts, though insiders have told The Sun she actually supported the cuts in Cabinet. With Labour panicked by the surge in support for Reform, and Nigel Farage set to promise he would restore the winter fuel allowance and end the two-child benefit cap, the sense of a Government in crisis is growing rapidly. Le fish fingers THE French navy routinely fails to stop boats overloaded with migrants from setting off from its waters — and often ushers them on their way to the UK in breach of international obligations. And yet, at the merest suggestion that a British trawler might have strayed on to the French side of The Channel, they move rapidly to seize the boats. Two British trawlers have now been impounded within a week, one either side of Sir Keir Starmer's craven surrender to the EU which allows French fishermen to continue to plunder British fish stocks for another 12 years. While the UK government falls over itself to help our 'friends', especially if to our own detriment, the French authorities nakedly act only in their own best interests, and brazenly give two fingers to supposed allies. So much for a 'reset'. British Snail COMMUTERS will have looked on with a wry grimace as the first renationalised rail service included a bus replacement. They have grown used to over-priced, cancelled or non-existent trains. But if they think it's all going to magically change under government control they are likely to be sorely disappointed. 'Great British Railways: coming soon,' the new train livery boasted. Expect a 'late arrival' announcement.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Labour delays self-driving cars on Britain's roads by 12 months
Self-driving cars will not be allowed on Britain's roads next year after Labour delayed the introduction of legislation for driverless vehicles. While various autonomous vehicle trials have been taking place in the UK for several years, there remains a legal requirement for a safety driver to be sat at the wheel to take back control at any moment. Under proposals laid out by the previous government, this was due to change in 2026 when laws were due to be put in place to grant unmanned vehicles access to our roads. However, the Department for Transport has confirmed provisions for this have been pushed back to 'the second half of 2027' at the earliest - a year later than the Tory Government had promised. 'We are working quickly and will implement self-driving vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027,' a DfT statement issued to the BBC said. 'We are also exploring options for short-term trials and pilots to create the right conditions for a thriving self-driving sector.' The Department for Transport has confirmed that legislation to allow self-driving cars onto Britain's roads has been pushed back to 'the second half of 2027' at the earliest Speaking to This is Money, a DfT spokesman added: 'Self-driving vehicles have the potential to build an industry worth £42billion and provide 38,000 jobs by 2035, helping us deliver our Plan for Change by creating jobs to put money in the pockets of hardworking people and drive investment to secure Britain's future.' It said it is now shifting focus to 'future pilots' of autonomous vehicles that allow 'removal of the safety driver'. The news comes a year after that the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act became law, receiving Royal Assent on 20 May 2024. It sets out the minimum safety threshold self-driving vehicles must achieve, which is a level 'at least as high as careful and competent human drivers'. It also outlines that AVs will need to pass rigorous safety checks before being allowed on our roads. The act allows for trials of automated vehicle technology in line with the government's 'world leading' Code of Practice. However, the DfT admits the code will need to be reviewed to ensure it remains fit for purpose and can accommodate the safe deployment of trials and pilots of self-driving services in the future. While the act promised to deliver 'the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide' for the safe deployment of self-driving vehicles in Britain, secondary legislation is still required in order to iron out liability issues if crashes occur and cybersecurity risk. The Law Commission has already recommended that 'users' of driverless cars should not be held responsible for accidents or injuries caused when their vehicle is in self-driving mode. Instead, liability should lie entirely at the hands of the vehicle manufacturer or provider of the self-driving technology, it said. The Parliament's Transport Select Committee in 2023 warned that the introduction of driverless cars would come with many risks, including worsening congestion, and new dangers for 'less skilled' human drivers. A YouGov survey of 4,087 Britons conducted earlier this month found that a mere 3 per cent of the public said they would prefer being transported by a self-driving car over one piloted by a human driver. Two in five said they would want to be driven by another person, and half would rather do the driving themselves. While there is little preference for the driverless car option across social groups, the poll identified a marked difference in the driver versus passenger preference; while most men and over 25s (51 per cent and 64 per cent respectively) would prefer to at the controls, these figures fall to just 39 per cent among women and 26 per cent for 18-24 year olds. Concerns regarding self-driving vehicles likely result for the number of high-profile accidents - sometimes fatal - and near misses involving autonomous cars in the US.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EU demands half a MILLION young Europeans are allowed into Britain under Keir Starmer's 'youth free movement' scheme
Brussels is demanding that as many as half a million young EU citizens are allowed to live in Britain under Keir Starmer 's post-Brexit EU deal. The Prime Minister has agreed in principle a 'youth experience scheme' that would allow adults aged up to 30 to come to the UK to work and study. Ministers want the scheme, which is reciprocal for UK citizens wishing to go to the continent, capped below 100,000. But an EU official last night suggested it would want the scheme to be similar in scale to the one Britain has with Australia. However, given the EU's population is 450million, compared to Australia's 26million, it raises the prospect of allowing in 500,000 from the continent. The Brussels official told the Times: 'Are Australians better than Europeans? If the same model applies, then the numbers would have to be much higher or it would be hurtful. 'What is the British problem with our young people, our children?' Much a figure would trigger a massive new immigration row, with Sir Keir facing demands to bring down net migration figures that rose out of control under the previous Tory government. As part of his Brexit 'reset' deal, Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to continue talks with Brussels on the 'youth experience' scheme. EU member states had demanded a youth mobility scheme in exchange for the Prime Minister's desire for closer post-Brexit defence and trade ties with the bloc. Following Monday's UK-EU summit in London, it was announced that both sides would 'co-operate further' on establishing such a scheme. But Downing Street last night insisted the Government had set a series of 'red lines' for those continuing discussions. These include EU migrants not being able to bring dependents or claim benefits under the proposed scheme, while they must pay to use the NHS. No10 also stressed there would be a cap on the number of youth visas that would be issued to EU nationals. It has previously been reported that Germany, Poland and Romania are particularly concerned about EU migrants in Britain having to pay healthcare charges. Downing Street declined to say when a youth mobility scheme with the EU might be finalised. 'We'll now be working with the EU on the details and we'll provide an update on that in due course,' Sir Keir's spokesman added. He also stressed that an EU scheme would 'mirror' the existing youth mobility schemes the UK has with other countries. Britain currently has such schemes with Andorra, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, San Marino, Taiwan, and Uruguay. Under the UK's youth mobility scheme with Australia, applicants must have £2,530 in savings, pay a £298 application fee, and stump up £776 per year to use the NHS. Those aged 18 to 35 from Australia can apply for a youth mobility visa to live and work in the UK for up to two years, with the possibility for a one-year extension. For this year, the number of youth visas is capped at 42,000 for Australians, 10,000 for Canadians, 9,500 for New Zealanders, and 6,000 for those from Japan. But the actual number of visas granted is much less, with just over 24,000 youth mobility visas issued by the UK across all 13 schemes in 2024.
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
How would a youth mobility scheme between the UK and EU work?
The UK looks increasingly likely to agree to a post-Brexit youth mobility scheme with the European Union at a major UK-EU summit on Monday. Such an agreement would be a major step towards resetting Boris Johnson's damaging Brexit deal, and has been pushed by European officials for months. The move, which is being demanded by European countries and commissioners in Brussels, would help to create much closer ties with the bloc and begin to repair the shattered relationship left by the previous Tory government. Here, The Independent looks at how such a scheme would work in practice, who would be eligible to take part and whether or not there is support for it in Britain. What would be the key features of a youth mobility scheme? An agreement of this nature would allow young people in the UK and the EU to move and work freely between countries for a limited period of time. It is likely to include 18- to 30-year-olds, potentially extending to those under 35 as well. It is thought that they would be able to live and work abroad for up to two years. However, there is some suggestion that figures in the government are pushing for this period to be reduced to just one year instead. Do similar schemes exist already? Britain already has similar agreements with 13 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The scheme is currently available for those aged 18 to 30 or 18 to 35, depending on where they are from, and allows them to live and work in the UK for up to two years. In order to qualify for the scheme, individuals must have £2,530 in savings to show they are able to support themselves while living in Britain. Would the British public back the scheme? There is widespread support for such an agreement, with a YouGov survey of almost 15,000 people indicating that two-thirds (66 per cent) backed the scheme, compared to just one in five (18 per cent) who are opposed. In Nigel Farage's Clacton-on-Sea constituency, which voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, more than twice as many people were in favour (57 per cent) than against (25 per cent) the idea of a mobility scheme. Would it drive up net migration? Supporters of the agreement insist it wouldn't drive up net migration, arguing that young people in the UK would be keen to move abroad, in the same way that young people in the EU would be keen to come here. Meanwhile, the time-limited nature of the scheme means they wouldn't be able to permanently settle abroad. There is also speculation that there would be a cap on numbers – or a 'one-in-one-out' policy – to ensure that those coming to the UK remain balanced with the number of people leaving. However, without that cap, critics argue Britain would end up taking more young people than it loses. Meanwhile, others argue that a youth mobility scheme would be a return to freedom of movement enjoyed by travellers when the UK was part of the EU by the back door. Sir Keir's 'red lines' for the negotiations with Brussels include no return to freedom of movement between countries. But it is understood that the government considers a limited youth mobility scheme would not break that promise because of the time limit.
