Keir Starmer Accuses Tories Of Fighting "Like Rats In A Sack" Over Rwanda Plan
Keir Starmer said Labour would reverse the government's Rwanda legislation if it wins the next election. (Labour)
3 min read
Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused the Conservatives of fighting like "rats in a sack" over its emergency Rwanda legislation.
At a press conference in Silverstone marking four years since Labour were defeated in the 2019 election, Starmer said the UK was now stuck in the Conservative party's "psychodrama".
"While they're swanning around self importantly, with their factions and their 'star chambers' – fighting like rats in a sack – there's a country out here that isn't being governed," Starmer said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is scrambling to supress a rebellion among his MPs fuelled by major discontent from the right of the Tory party that the latest version of the government's Rwanda plans do not go far enough in closing avenues for asylum seekers to make legal challenges against being deported to the African country.
Sunak introduced the new measures, which include declaring Rwanda is a safe country, after the Supreme Court in November ruled the Rwanda resettlement scheme was unlawful in its current form because refugees sent there could be put at risk of their human rights being violated.
As Downing Street was desperately trying to get MPs in line on Tuesday morning, the Labour leader said he does believe the legislation will get the support to survive tonight's vote, despite Tory discontent, but insisted the Prime Minister should call a general election if the Bill falls.
"I don't doubt there'll be a lot of shouting and screaming but in the end, it'll go through," said Starmer.
"The Prime Minister has got an 80 seat majority; we shouldn't even be having a discussion about whether he's going to get his basic legislation through."
Starmer also reiterated Labour's pledge to repeal the Rwanda legislation if it wins office, describing the scheme, which seeks to deport asylum seekers arriving to the UK via "illegal" routes for processing and settlement in Rwanda, as a "gimmick" that would not work.
"It will cost a fortune – £290m already – without a single person having gone, and it's against our values," said Starmer.
"That does not mean that we don't recognise the challenge that there is with people crossing in small boats across the channel – we have to stop that. We have a duty to stop that.
"Stopping that means no gimmicks: but rolling our sleeves up with a practical plan that will actually work."
Starmer also emphasised the party's desire for "a decade of national renewal" for the UK, which Starmer said can't be achieved with "a policy tweak here and there".
"If we are privileged enough to win the next election, if we earn your trust, we will set the direction," he continued.
"We will give Britain hope. We'll walk together towards national renewal with a new mission. To get Britain building again. Take back our streets, switch on Great British energy, get the NHS back on its feet, and tear down the barriers to opportunity."
Starmer also said the "driving project" of his time as Labour leader was to "restore the party to the service of working people" after four successive electoral defeats – where he said the party had "lost" its way and "reneged" on its values.
"Everything I've done as leader, every fight I've had, has been to reconnect us to that purpose – to make sure we never put working people in that position again," said Starmer.
"That we say to [voters]: you could choose Labour, and know that we see our country through your eyes.
"Know that we have changed fundamentally – not just a paint job, a total overhaul, a different Labour Party, driven by your values, relentless in earning your vote.
"It's a Labour Party that understands the first duty of government is always to protect its people.
"That every pound of money we collect must be spent wisely, because it's yours and that you can't have good public services without strong public finances."
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