Labour leader vows to treat Channel people smugglers as 'terrorists'
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Labour leader Keir Starmer stirs up controversy by labeling those who have opposing views on his immigration policies as "un-British".
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British Labour leader Keir Starmer is pictured in London, on June 3, 2022 (AFP)
Amid a growing controversy surrounding the UK's immigration crackdown, Labour leader Keir Starmer unveiled yet another controversial policy that targets "individuals involved in cross-Channel people-smuggling," The Guardian reported.
Starmer proposed that they be treated as "terrorists", going on to slam those who oppose his plans, labeling them as "un-British".
While meeting with officials from Europol and other organizations in The Hague, The Netherlands, Starmer suggested that an agreement for repatriating Channel crossers might involve accepting quotas of asylum seekers through the European Union. However, he refrained from specifying the exact number of individuals he would consider accepting under the potential agreement, which Labour is hopeful of reaching with the EU.
Starmer emphasized that his pursuit of closer cooperation with the EU on this issue does not signify a softening of his opinion on Brexit.
Speaking from The Hague, he informed ITV's Good Morning Britain, "There is no return to freedom of movement. We have left the EU. There’s no case for going back to the EU, no case for going into the single market or customs union, and no freedom of movement. I’ve been really clear that that’s the parameter."
"The first stage is, how do you work with police forces across countries to ensure that you stop people getting into the boats in the first place, and smash this vile trade; and that is about working here in Europol, working across Europe, to ensure that the criminals are brought down, that they are treated in the same way that we treat terrorists. So that’s stage one," he added.
It is worth noting that Starmer stirred up debate with an article he penned for The Sun on Thursday, where he mentioned that there were individuals who suggested that Labour should avoid discussing immigration or shouldn't support strong borders, while others advocated for Britain to isolate itself from the international community.
He stated that both of these viewpoints were incorrect and contrary to British values.
Starmer, who is planning to visit Canada after his trip to The Hague to participate in a conference alongside other center-left leaders and meet with French President Emmanuel Macron next week, aims to leverage his background as the director of public prosecutions. He intends to use his experience to advocate for increased collaboration across borders in addressing illegal migration, as per The Guardian.
"We know that serious organized immigration crime is being run by gangs across borders, involving the movement of people and equipment and involving a huge amount of money that is being made by these gangs that are driving this vile trade," he told Times Radio.
"That is not unique, because you have similar operations when it comes to terrorism, ammunition and guns being sent across borders, human trafficking, particularly of women being exploited for sex. So there are examples of how these gangs can be smashed," he added.
It is worth noting that Human Rights Watch stated on Thursday that families seeking asylum in the UK are facing inadequate living conditions in government-provided temporary housing. These conditions are negatively impacting their mental and physical health, not to mention their children's access to education.
The report also pointed out that individuals placed in hotel accommodations faced significant habitability challenges, including limited space, dampness, mold, damaged or missing furniture, and pest infestations. Furthermore, families struggled to provide their children with adequate meals due to the lack of cooking facilities, and children encountered obstacles in accessing education because local schools often did not allow immediate enrollment.
Controversy and condemnation
The UK government is making efforts to reduce what it labels as "illegal" migration to the country, which is a highly contentious political issue. There is significant pressure to prevent migrants from undertaking dangerous Channel crossings in small boats.
To address this, the government has introduced controversial legislation that bars asylum claims from those arriving via the Channel and other "illegal routes". This legislation also mandates the transfer of these individuals to third countries, such as Rwanda. However, both of these policies are currently on hold due to a legal challenge regarding the legality of sending migrants to East Africa.
Additionally, the UK government aims to reduce the costs of hotel accommodations for asylum seekers and is exploring alternatives such as barges, disused military bases, and even tents. Notably, last month, the UK controversially began housing adult men on the "Bibby Stockholm" barge off the southwest English coast, but an embarrassing setback ensued when they had to remove them within days after Legionella bacteria was found in the onboard water supply.
The HRW's report comes shortly after reports of vulnerable children arriving in the UK via small boats being placed in an adult prison that houses a significant number of sex offenders. Instances have been noted in which unaccompanied children, many of whom appear to have been trafficked, are sent to HMP Elmley in Kent and placed among adult prisoners. The latest inspection of Elmley reveals that the section for foreign nationals also includes sex offenders.
Read more: New scandal: Children seeking asylum kidnapped from Home Office hotels
