Keir Starmer blasted for ‘flip-flopping’ AGAIN on plans to tackle small boats – as he draws up ‘Rwanda alternative’
SIR Keir Starmer has been blasted for flip-flopping once again on his plans for tackling illegal migration.
In a major U-turn, the Labour chief is understood to be drawing up “watertight” proposals for offshore asylum processing.
Sir Keir will continue opposing the government’s Rwanda deportation plan.
But he is understood to be desperate to prove he nonetheless takes small boats seriously.
Senior Tories today hit out at the opposition chief for mulling a new idea “nothing more than warmed-up leftovers”.
Minister for Countering Illegal Immigration, Michael Tomlinson KC, said: “This Labour policy is not a deterrent to stop the boats, it just throws open the front door to Britain, increasing immigration.
“While Labour wants open borders, the Conservatives are taking the long-term decisions to bring illegal immigration down.”
Former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith told The Sun: “After being visited by the ghosts of policies past, policies present and policies future, we see yet more flip-flopping by Labour and Sir Keir.
“One minute they want extra asylum seekers as part of a dodgy deal with the EU, the next minute they ditch it.
“Then they think Rwanda is inhumane and a gimmick – now they want to copy it, but simply use it somewhere else.
“Trusting Labour on immigration is like turkeys voting for Christmas.”
Labour sources told The Sun Sir Keir wants to present a Rwanda alternative that will cost less taxpayer cash and avoid being held up in court.
Earlier this year the party pledged to tackle small boats by signing a new returns agreement with France.
But critics slammed the idea as an open-door route for 100,000 migrants to enter Britain from the EU every year.
Now, Sir Keir and Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have drafted in asylum experts to help with their latest attempt.
The pair have also asked former Home Secretary Lord David Blunkett for advice.
He told The Times: “What’s absolutely crucial is who is doing the processing and that they’re allowed back into the country.
“Without it, you’re merely transferring the problem on to somebody else. But if British officials are doing the processing, then you’ve got a scheme that fits with the conventions.”
Sir Keir is understood to be adamant that any new plan must be cost-effective, legally bulletproof and credible enough to have a deterrent effect.
It must also include options for migrants deemed genuine refugees to be rehoused in Britain.
The Labour leader is pencilled down to deliver a major speech next week, where he will kickstart a months-long general election campaign with further details on the new plan.
The Tories believe small boats is a major weak spot for Labour and intend to press shadow frontbenchers on the issue as election campaigning ramps up.