Labor warned against “dancing to the Tory tune” by outsourcing asylum claims – The Guardian

Immigration and Asylum

The party is reportedly considering options for processing asylum claims abroad, which have been criticized by the SNP, charities and advocacy groups

Tuesday, December 26, 2023, 5:18 p.m. GMT

Labor has been warned that processing asylum claims abroad could harm refugees and amount to a “Tony dance” on immigration as it refused to rule out introducing such a policy.

The party has considered “offshoring” to deal with migration via illegal routes, but charities, the SNP and left-wing pressure group Momentum have said this is a dangerous path.

Keir Starmer said this month he would look at offshore systems where migrants are processed in a third country “typically en route to their destination country”, and said other European countries were also considering it.

The Times reported on Monday that Labor is also looking at all options for processing asylum claims offshore, as long as British officials carry out the assessment and migrants are not prevented from claiming asylum if they have entered illegally – unlike Rwanda. Government program.

A senior Labor source expressed great enthusiasm for the idea of ​​offshore processing of migrant asylum claims and said it was being considered.

However, other Labor sources played down the idea that this was more than just an option. One suggested that it could be more about processing applications from war refugees once they have arrived in neighboring countries, rather than sending migrants who have already arrived in the UK to completely independent countries.

Labor's decision to consider a range of offshoring options sparked concern among charities and criticism from some of its political rivals.

SNP home affairs spokeswoman Alison Thewliss said Labor was once again “dancing to the Tory tune”, this time on Rwanda and asylum.

“Sir Keir is so weak that he was forced to support Brexit, Conservative spending cuts and privatization of the NHS – and now he is trapped by the absurd Rwanda plan which has cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds.” , she said.

“The SNP is clear that outsourcing our fellow human beings is inhumane and immoral. Labor should rule out Rwanda-style plans, not help enable them.”

A Momentum spokesman said it was “worrying” that Labor was reportedly considering such a plan. “Labour should not be, and need not be, the party for more deportations and more effective offshoring,” they said.

“As migration experts have said, the way to minimize dangerous small-boat crossings is to develop safe routes for refugees. Instead of emulating inhumane Tory policies like outsourcing asylum seekers, Keir Starmer should stand up for progressive values ​​and migrant rights. In doing so, it can offer a practical alternative to the Tories’ cruel and divisive war on migrants.”

Refugee-supporting charities caught up in government efforts to deport migrants who entered Rwanda illegally have expressed dismay.

Steve Smith, chief executive of Care4Calais, said: “The color of their party rosettes may be different, but their morals appear not to be.” Outsourcing our international obligations to other countries is a shameful policy where everyone loses.

“It does nothing to protect people fleeing war, torture and persecution. Just like the public service outsourcing spree, British taxpayers' money is being sent to other countries for nothing in return, with hundreds of millions already paid to Rwanda under the Tories' failed plan.

“And Britain’s reputation on the international stage will remain Little Britain rather than Great Britain. All this expensive anti-refugee rhetoric and shenanigans when the only viable solution to crossing the English Channel is so simple and inexpensive – opening up safe routes for refugees to claim asylum in the UK. This is what any serious and progressive new government would introduce.”

Natasha Tsangarides, deputy head of advocacy at Freedom from Torture, also criticized Labor for reportedly considering plans to process refugees abroad. She said: “We know these plans will always be harmful to torture survivors. Survivors risk not being identified and detained in a timely manner, compounding the horrific trauma they have already experienced.

“Now is a real opportunity to finally move away from the divisive scaremongering and politics of hate. If Labor is serious about fulfilling the positive commitment it has already made to assessing the asylum claims of all people arriving on our shores, then they must instead focus on rebuilding a fair and compassionate asylum system here in the UK.”

The government's Rwanda plans have repeatedly failed in court and it recently passed a law aimed at bypassing elements of human rights law to make the plan a reality.

Commenting on Labour's plans, Jo Maugham, director of the Good Law Project, said: “Whether these plans meet the moral obligations of the UK is a question for voters.” But Good Law Project will be keen to ensure that the government – whatever its political stripe – complies with its international and national legal obligations.”

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