UK premier, main opposition leader clash over immigration policy

LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday defended his policy to tackle migration but main opposition Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the government as more than 20,000 people arrived in the UK via small boats since Labour Party came to power in July.

Badenoch put pressure on Starmer about why the prime minister has not named tackling immigration as one of his targets announced last week during his "Plan for Change" address.

"He (Starmer) has relaunched yet again, many new targets, six milestones, five missions. But why was cutting immigration not a priority," asked Badenoch.

The premier replied that the previous government presided over record-high levels of immigration and recalled that recent figures showed a decrease in the number of net migration.

"As he is so keen to talk about the past, let's look at his record," she noted, saying that four years ago, Starmer signed a letter demanding that "foreign criminals be allowed to stay in Britain."

The prime minister again criticized the Conservative government saying that the number of migrants was four times higher during previous government than the country was in the EU.

"They lost control of the borders," added the British premier.

It is a "ludicrous assertion," replied Badenoch, recalling that Starmer was the one who asked the Conservative government to pause all deportations and asked: "Prime minister says he wants to talk about immigration. I have committed to a cap on migration. Why won't he."

Starmer said that the Conservative Party "should apologize for what they've done with their open borders policy."

"He did not answer a single question. He never answers questions," said Badenoch, accusing the prime minister of "never taking responsibility."

Small boat arrivals increased by nearly 20%

Badenoch also noted that small boat arrivals have increased by nearly 20%, adding even Labor Party deputies are "complaining about having to house asylum seekers."

"So can the Prime Minister tell the house how much more his government will spend on hotel accommodation because he scrapped the deterrence,” she asked.

In response, Starmer recalled that his government has set up a Border Security Command to tackle illegal migration and signed an agreement with Germany.

"He says he wants to smash the gangs. The only thing he smashed is his own reputation," said Badenoch.

She also criticized the recent agreement with Iraq on immigration, saying: "The cost of the Iraq agreements is half a million pounds ($638,000). That wouldn't even buy a house in his constituency (Holborn and St Pancras, London).”

Starmer replied that Badenoch should welcome agreements with Iraq and Germany, mentioning that many of the boats crossed the English Channel are coming through Germany and it is "well documented."

In October, a five-month-long BBC investigation exposed the significant German connection to the lethal human smuggling trade across the English Channel.

To date, more than 30,000 people have crossed the English Channel to arrive in the UK via small boats in 2024, including 20,000 since Labour Party came to power in July.