UK politics: Starmer unveils small boats plan as Sunak’s first Rwanda flights could take off in June
Shadow health secretary claims more Tories could follow Elphicke’s path in joining the Labour Party but Sir Keir Starmer denies Nigel Farage is joining
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Keir Starmer has unveiled a counter-terror style small boats plan that will “replace gimmicks with graft” by scrapping the Rwanda scheme.
He has vowed to partly fund a new “elite” border unit as he set out his plans to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
In a speech at Dover, the Labour leader accused the Conservatives of operating a “Travelodge amnesty” by housing asylum-seekers in hotels rather than processing their claims.
He was accompanied by new Labour MP Natalie Elphicke, who has slammed the Tories approach on boats just days after defecting from the party.
Speaking about her admission, he said the move represents the “mood of the country” as Rishi Sunak is “clinging on by his fingernails” to power.
During the press conference, the opposition leader hasn’t ruled out letting Nigel Farage join the Labour Party.
It comes after as government lawyers have confirmed the first deportation flights as part of the Rwanda scheme could take off in June.
First UK deportation flight ‘to take off in June'
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda scheme is set to fully materialise in a matter of weeks.
The first asylum seekers were originally set to be flown out of the ground in July.
But court documents have now revealed that flights could take off in June.
Government lawyers said: “In the prime minister’s press conference on 22 April he said the first flight would leave in 10 to 12 weeks. The 10th week after 22 April starts with the week commencing 24 June.
“We are instructed that this is the earliest possible date for the first removals and that the decision on the precise date will be based on operational considerations and progress over the coming weeks.”
We are now putting our coverage of UK politics on hold for the night, resuming soon.
Comment: The economy climbs out of recession – but, hold on, there may be a catch…
The strength of the UK’s emergence from recession came as a surprise even to the City – but, says James Moore, finally turning the corner makes a cut in interest rates less likely.
'Scottish independence can be delivered in five years,’ says John Swinney
Scotland’s first Minister has told Sky News that the “answer” to their problems including the cost-of-living and Brexit.
When asked whether independence can happen in five years, Mr Swinney told the broadcaster: “I think independence can be delivered in that timescale because the arguments for it are compelling.
“If we look at two of the biggest issues we face as a country in Scotland: the effect of the cost of living and the implications of Brexit.
“Both of those major strategic factors that are doing severe economic and social damage to Scotland are because of bad decisions taken in Westminster, and independence is the answer to that.”
Rwanda flights could come as soon as June as Starmer slams Tory ‘gimmicks’
The earliest possible date for flights to Rwanda is 24 June, government lawyers have told the High Court:
Rwanda flights could come as soon as June, court documents suggest
Government lawyers try to move date of court battle over Rwanda plan earlier but are told off by judge
Labour ‘not interested in repatriating people', Starmer says
Addressing the government’s Rwanda plan becoming law, Sir Keir said: “They will get flights off the ground – I don’t doubt that.”
He added that Mr Sunak is likely to get “a couple of hundred” migrants to Rwanda before the election “for party management”.
But, asked by The Independent what would happen to those deported to Rwanda in the coming months once Labour scrapped the plan, he said Labour was “not interested in repatriating people”.
Starmer will stop Rwanda flights right after general election
Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News he will act fast and cancel Rishi’s deportation flights to Rwanda as soon as he wins the general election.
If he gets elected, the opposition leader said he will stop them even if “they carry with it “a cheque” to the African government.
He added: “Every flight that takes off carries with it a cheque to the Rwanda government.
“So I want to scrap the scheme - so that means the flights won’t be going.”
Labour will stop Rwanda deportation flights, Starmer promises
While Rishi Sunak sets up a date to fly asylum seekers out of the country, Keir Starmer said he will scrap it all together if he is crowned Primer Minister.
During the Dover conference, the Labour leader promised voters: “We will scrap the Rwanda scheme.
“I said that to you when we last met last week, the time before last and you know, that means ending the scheme. Absolutely. Flights and all.”
In full: Jeremy Hunt admits Conservative MPs ‘losing their nerve’ after Ephicke defection
Westminster was stunned this week with the shock defection of Tory MP Natalie Elphicke to Labour.
The move added to Rishi Sunak’s woes just days after he appeared to see off Tory rebels keen to oust him, after bruising devastating local election results.
Ben Houchen, the Tory Mayor of the Tees Valley, has also urged Mr Sunak to get a grip of his party as he warned the “public do not vote for parties who are not united”.
Asked about both Lord Houchen’s comments and Ms Elphicke’s defection said: “What he (Houchen) said was divided parties don’t win elections and we need to pull together as a Conservative Party.
“I think that when you see we are behind in the polls, unfortunately some colleagues do lose their nerve.”
Labour accuse Rishi Sunak of ‘out of touch victory lap’ after UK exits recession
Mr Sunak claimed that “things are starting to feel better” hours after figures showed the economy had grown by 0.6 per cent over the first three months of this year, Kate Devlin writes.
But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper labelled the Conservatives as “out of touch” for celebrating.
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