Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
An Iranian missile hit an Israeli governmental compound in Haifa.
Talks begin in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the E3.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The E3 will present Araghchi with a four-point European plan that includes a complete end to uranium enrichment in Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives at the venue of the negotiations that will soon begin with the E3.
Araghchi: The Israeli attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran are serious war crimes.
Araghchi: We are determined to defend our territorial integrity and sovereignty with full force.
Araghchi: We were supposed to meet with the Americans on June 15 to draft a highly promising agreement regarding our nuclear program.
Araghchi: The unjustified Israeli attack on Iran is a violation of International Humanitarian Law Article 33.
Araghchi: Iran is facing aggression that cannot be justified in any way, and justifying this aggression is an act of complicity.
Araghchi: "Israel" bombed nuclear facilities that are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Labour leader vows to treat Channel people smugglers as 'terrorists'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian + New websites
  • 14 Sep 2023 14:15
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

Labour leader Keir Starmer stirs up controversy by labeling those who have opposing views on his immigration policies as "un-British".

  • x
  • British Labour leader Keir Starmer is pictured in London, on 3 June 2022 (AFP)
    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.

Related News

Labour MPs push for UK recognition of Palestine at UN conference

Labour Minister breaks ranks, blasts government over Gaza

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

  • Labour Party
  • Keir Starmer
  • UK
  • Immigration Policies
  • immigrants

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Netanyahu stuns by postponing son’s wedding over Iran war
Politics

Netanyahu sparks outrage citing son’s wedding delay as Iran war cost

French court postpones verdict to July 17 on Georges Abdallah
Europe

French court postpones verdict on Georges Abdallah to July 17

Perseverance to shorten war: Iran's Larijani
Politics

Larijani says Iran to hold IAEA chief accountable after war ends

Damage to the Weizmann Institute of Science from an Iranian missile strike in Rehovot, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Politics

'Catastrophic loss': Iranian blow to Weizmann’s war-linked facilities

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS