Keir Starmer has criticized small boats as “Farage boats” while intensifying his criticisms of the Reform leader. The Prime Minister expressed that the UK is working to regain lost ground as he condemned Mr. Farage’s Brexit promises. During an interview with GB News, Mr. Starmer pointed out that the Reform leader had inaccurately claimed that Brexit would not impact migration policy during the 2016 referendum campaign.
“We have now rectified that, but there is more to be done. I want to remind Nigel Farage and others that before leaving the EU, we had a returns agreement with all EU countries, and he wrongly assured the nation that leaving would have no effect,” Mr. Starmer stated.
Referring to the small boats crossing the Channel, he remarked, “These are Farage boats in many ways.” This statement follows a recent suggestion at the Lib Dem conference to label them as Brexit boats.
Critics argue that losing the returns agreement with Europe has benefitted smuggling gangs. French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that Brexit had hindered Britain’s ability to deport individuals, leading to increased crossings.
After the UK exited the EU, no alternative arrangement was established under the Dublin Convention, which dictates returning asylum seekers to their initial EU entry point. In the summer, the UK government struck a ‘one-in-one-out’ agreement with France, resulting in detained small boat arrivals being deported, with legitimate individuals allowed entry in exchange.
Ministers believe this approach will deter risky journeys. While acknowledging that only a small number have been deported under the returns agreement, the PM emphasized the importance of demonstrating the policy’s effectiveness.
Labour has recently escalated its criticism of Mr. Farage, with Mr. Starmer and other ministers labeling Reform’s proposal to revoke indefinite leave to remain for individuals in the UK as “racist.” However, Mr. Starmer clarified that he does not consider Mr. Farage or his supporters to be racist, highlighting concerns about border security and the pace of change.
In response to claims that his criticism could incite the radical left and endanger Reform members, Mr. Starmer denied these allegations during an interview with Nick Ferrari on LBC. Mr. Farage, in a piece for the Daily Mail, expressed disappointment in the PM’s behavior, stating that he believed him to be reasonable until recently.
“I may disagree with him on various matters, but until now, I viewed him as a reasonable individual,” Mr. Farage remarked. “Now, his recent actions have shocked me. I hope he wakes up feeling remorseful for the impact on British politics in recent days.”