Keir Starmer has criticized small boats, labeling them as “Farage boats” while intensifying his criticism of the Reform leader.
During an interview with GB News, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for the UK to make up for lost ground and criticized Mr. Farage’s Brexit promises. Starmer pointed out that Farage had inaccurately claimed before the Brexit referendum in 2016 that leaving the EU would not affect migration policy.
Starmer highlighted that before the UK exited the EU, there was a returns agreement with all EU countries, contradicting Farage’s earlier assertions. Referring to the small boats arriving across the Channel, Starmer stated, “These are Farage boats in many senses.” This statement echoes a similar sentiment expressed at the recent Lib Dem conference, where there was a call to designate the small boats as Brexit boats.
Critics argue that the absence of a returns agreement with Europe has empowered smuggling gangs. French President Emmanuel Macron previously noted that Brexit had hindered the UK’s ability to repatriate individuals, potentially fueling increased crossings.
The Dublin Convention, applicable within the EU, allows for the return of asylum seekers to the first EU member state they entered. However, no alternative arrangement was established post-Brexit.
To address the issue, the UK government struck a ‘one-in-one-out’ agreement with France, detaining and deporting individuals arriving via small boats. In return, legitimate asylum seekers are permitted entry into the UK.
While acknowledging the limited number of deportations under the returns agreement, the PM emphasized the importance of demonstrating the effectiveness of the policy.
Labour has recently escalated its criticism of Farage, with Starmer and other ministers denouncing Reform’s proposal to revoke indefinite leave to remain for individuals already in the UK as “racist.”
Starmer clarified that he does not consider Farage or his supporters to be racist, attributing their concerns to border security and frustration with the pace of change. He expressed apprehensions about the policy’s implications, fearing it could divide the country.
In response to accusations that his criticism could incite the radical left and jeopardize Reform members’ safety, Starmer refuted these claims.
Mr. Farage, in a piece for the Daily Mail, expressed disappointment in the PM’s recent behavior, hoping for a more constructive approach to British politics.
