‘Foolish’ Starmer slammed for scrapping £700m Rwanda migrant plan after Germany proposed to adopt scheme Britain funded
SIR Keir Starmer has been labelled “foolish” for scrapping the £700million plan to send illegal migrants to Rwanda — as Germany proposed to adopt the scheme paid for by Brits.
The Prime Minister came under fire as it emerged our European ally could even use empty asylum facilities paid for by hard-working UK taxpayers.
Around 10,000 refugees coming to Germany each year through its eastern borders could be sent there for processing.
Tory leadership contenders blasted the PM for abandoning the deterrent on gaining office, after £290million had been paid upfront to the government in Kigali.
Former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Labour’s decision to scrap, not strengthen, the Rwanda plan looks more foolish by the day.
“Across Europe, leaders can see that you need a deterrent to stop illegal migration.
“Sir Keir has squandered such a highly-prized partnership and is now completely powerless to stop the boats.”
Fellow Tory leadership hopeful, ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly, said: “Labour’s first move in government was to scrap the Rwanda plan.
“Now Germany want to use the facilities we built.
“The only people who benefit from Labour’s reckless immigration policies are people smugglers and the EU.”
And ex-Minister Chris Philp added: “Germany set to benefit from Labour’s cancellation of the Rwanda scheme (which they cancelled before it had even started)”.
The controversy erupted after Germany’s migration commissioner Joachim Stamp indicated the EU could use existing accommodation in Rwanda.
Mr Stamp — echoing the UK’s former Tory government — said being sent there for processing would “take away the motivation to come to the EU” for those who come to the continent via its eastern borders.
He added: “My suggestion would be we concentrate on this group.
“It’s about 10,000 people a year.”
His plans would see asylum schemes conducted under the watchful eye of the United Nations.
He added: “We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda.”
Like the UK, the ruling coalition in Germany is also facing mounting calls to stop illegal migration — with recent regional elections seeing huge support for the anti-immigration far-right AfD party.
The four-storey, 50-room Hope Hostel in Kigali had been ready to accept UK migrants for the past two years before the Labour Government said the scheme was “dead and buried”.
A Rwandan government spokesman said they would be open to an asylum deal with Germany.
They added: “Rwanda has been very public they are happy to work with anyone on this who shares their desire to find a long-term solution to migration.”
The move comes as Italy has also spoken about sending some asylum seekers to Albania.
Former PM Rishi Sunak had pledged to “stop the boats” — with the Rwanda plan seen as a deterrent for migrants crossing the Channel and facing the threat of being sent to East Africa.
Sir Keir scrapped the scheme in July, using the money to set up a Border Security Command in a bid to smash the gangs in Europe using anti-terrorism style powers.
The new head of the BSC will be named within weeks.
Some 257 migrants crossed the English Channel on Wednesday — just a day after an overloaded boat sank off the coast of France, claiming the lives of 12 migrants including a pregnant woman and six children.
The cumulative number of arrivals by small boats in 2024 now stands at 21,977 — three per cent higher than at this point last year when the total stood at 21,372.
But it is still 20 per cent lower than at this stage in 2022, when the total was 27,409.
Policies pursued by other countries are a matter for them. Our position with regard to Rwanda is well known.
Downing Street
There have been 2,683 migrant arrivals in the past nine days — the highest in any equal period this year.
And some 8,000 migrants have arrived on our shores since Labour gained power.
Costs to the UK for the Rwanda policy was £700million, including £290million direct to the Rwanda government and for chartered flights which did not leave.
Costs also mounted for 200 migrants who were detained for potential deportation but were never sent.
Money was also spent on more than 1,000 civil servants working on the project.
But Rwandan officials have said they do not have to hand back any of the cash paid by Britain.
Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel flew to Rwanda to sign the original partnership agreement back in 2022.
Downing Street yesterday refused to comment on Germany’s plan, saying: “Policies pursued by other countries are a matter for them.
“Our position with regard to Rwanda is well known.”
Camp bid bombs
PLANS to turn the historic headquarters of the Dambusters into an asylum centre have been scrapped — after £60million of taxpayers’ money was spent on the project.
RAF Scampton, home to 617 Squadron during World War Two, had been earmarked as a new refugee camp by the Home Office.
It was due to open in the next few months but campaigners have fiercely opposed it because of the Lincolnshire site’s wartime links.
A petition started by Hamish Falconer, now Labour MP for Lincoln, to stop the detention camp gained almost 80,000 signatures online.
The Home Office said yesterday opening as planned would have cost almost £20million by the end of its use in 2027, meaning the site no longer represents value for money.
The Government has started the process of selling off the land.