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Sir Keir Starmer arrived in The Hague on Thursday vowing that his Labor government would work more closely with the EU to tackle clandestine migration, including by agreeing a new “payback deal” with the bloc.
But the Conservatives claim a “quid pro quo” for such a deal would see the UK take in asylum seekers from other EU countries, including those who cross the Mediterranean into Italy or Greece.
The Labor leader’s visit to the headquarters of EU law enforcement agency Europol signals his plans for closer ties with Europe after Brexit, including tackling cross-Channel migration.
Starmer, who is seeking to build his international profile, has said that if he wins power he will also treat people smugglers like terrorists, freezing their assets and restricting their movements.
In an interview with The Times, Starmer confirmed Labor would overturn new laws that prevent cross-Channel migrants from seeking asylum in the UK. He said the Conservative plan to deport people to Rwanda was inhumane.
Starmer said that in the longer term he would work towards a deal with the EU on the return of asylum seekers, adding that a “quid pro quo” for any deal could include accepting immigration quotas from the bloc.
“This will be part of any discussions and negotiations with Europe,” he said. The Conservatives claim this will result in the UK being required to take tens of thousands of asylum seekers from the EU in exchange for sending cross-Channel migrants back to the continent.
Starmer’s intention is to appear tough on immigration – he says he wants to “crush” people smuggling gangs – and he wants to use “serious crime orders” to freeze assets and restrict their movements.
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Starmer would discuss “better real-time information sharing to track criminal gangs” at Europol and the creation of a new cross-border policing unit.
Thomas-Symonds told the BBC that any reciprocal payoff deal would be the subject of negotiations but would likely focus on vulnerable children and family reunification.
But the idea of a reciprocal payoff deal is likely to be a feature of next year’s election. The Daily Mail, a pro-Conservative newspaper, carried the Tory line of attack on its front page on Thursday: “Labour is ready to open the door to EU asylum seekers.”
A Tory official said: “Finally, we have Sir Keir Starmer’s illegal immigration plan – he will legalize illegal immigration.
“He will ignore the wishes of the British people to cut numbers and instead strike a deal with the EU committing us to a ‘fair share’ of the number of illegal immigrants entering Europe every year. Last year the number was close to 1 million and it is expected to increase this year. “
Starmer will take his most significant step on the world political stage in the coming days, attending a gathering of centre-left leaders in Canada this weekend and meeting French President Emmanuel Macron next week.
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