New Uk Prime Minister Starmer Says Controversial Rwanda Deportation Plan Is 'dead And Buried'

Mr. Starmer's action was among his first in office, as anticipated.

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On the first full day in office, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he is scrapping the Conservative policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. He promised change but warned that it would require time.

"The Rwanda scheme was doomed from the start," Starmer said at his first news conference. "It never worked as a deterrent. In fact, it did the opposite."

The announcement was no surprise since Starmer had pledged to drop the costly, ineffective plan.

The news conference came after his first Cabinet meeting. The new government must tackle domestic issues and regain public trust worn down by austerity, political turmoil, and economic challenges.

Starmer welcomed the new ministers at 10 Downing St., calling it the honor of his life to be asked by King Charles III to form a government.

"We've got a lot of work ahead, so let's begin," he said.
 

Starmer's Labour Party achieved a historic landslide victory against the Conservatives on Friday, promising change.

They now face major challenges, including boosting the sluggish economy, fixing the broken healthcare system, and restoring trust in government.

"Labour's big win doesn't mean the Conservative government's problems have disappeared," said Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London.

In his first speech as prime minister on Friday, Starmer promised to start working immediately but warned results would take time.

"Changing a country isn't like flipping a switch," he told cheering supporters outside 10 Downing St. "This will take a while, but the work starts now."

Following a six-week campaign across the UK, his schedule will be packed.

Next week, Starmer will travel to Washington for a NATO meeting. He will also host the European Political Community summit on July 18, following the state opening of Parliament and the King's Speech.

On Friday, he highlighted key priorities like fixing the struggling National Health Service and securing borders, addressing the global challenge of migrants fleeing war, poverty, and climate change-related disasters.

The Conservatives failed to stop migrants crossing the English Channel, despite ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats," which led to the controversial Rwanda deportation plan.

Bale emphasized that Labour needs to resolve the small boats problem. "They'll ditch the Rwanda scheme but need other solutions for this problem."

Suella Braverman, a Conservative hard-liner on immigration and a potential candidate to replace Sunak, criticized Starmer's plan to end the Rwanda pact.

"Years of effort, legislation, and millions spent on a scheme that could have succeeded if implemented correctly," she said Saturday. "Keir Starmer's decisions may lead to significant future challenges."

Meanwhile, Starmer's Cabinet is also getting to work.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy began his first trip on Saturday to meet counterparts in Germany, Poland, and Sweden, emphasizing the importance of their relationship.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting will start new negotiations next week with junior NHS doctors who have staged multi-day strikes. The pay dispute has worsened the long wait times for NHS appointments.