British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech, following his first cabinet meeting as Prime Minister – REUTERS
Jul 6, 2024 Story by: Editor
On his first full day as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer announced the termination of the Conservative policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. Emphasizing the need for change, Starmer cautioned that progress would require time.
“The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started,” Starmer declared at his inaugural news conference. “It’s never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite.”
This move was anticipated, as Starmer had previously stated his intention to abolish the costly and unimplemented plan.
The announcement came after Starmer’s first Cabinet meeting, marking the start of his government’s effort to address numerous domestic issues and regain public trust after years of austerity, political instability, and economic challenges.
In his initial address to his Cabinet at 10 Downing St., Starmer expressed his honor at being appointed Prime Minister by King Charles III, emphasizing the importance of getting to work immediately.
“We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work,” he said.
Starmer’s Labour Party achieved a historic victory over the Conservatives on Friday, campaigning on a platform of change.
The new government faces several significant challenges, including reviving a sluggish economy, fixing a broken health care system, and restoring faith in government.
“Just because Labour won a big landslide doesn’t mean all the problems that the Conservative government has faced have gone away,” noted Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.
In his first remarks as Prime Minister following the “kissing of hands” ceremony with Charles at Buckingham Palace, Starmer emphasized the need for immediate action, while acknowledging that meaningful change would take time.
“Changing a country is not like flicking a switch,” he said to supporters outside his new official residence at 10 Downing. “This will take a while. But have no doubt that the work of change begins — immediately.”
Starmer’s schedule remains busy following a six-week campaign across the U.K. He is set to travel to Washington next week for a NATO meeting and will host the European Political Community summit on July 18, the day after the state opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech, which will outline the new government’s agenda.
Starmer highlighted key issues such as fixing the National Health Service and securing borders, addressing the broader issue of managing the influx of migrants fleeing conflict, poverty, and climate change impacts.
The Conservative government struggled to manage the migrant situation, with ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” leading to the controversial Rwanda deportation plan.
“Labour is going to need to find a solution to the small boats coming across the channel,” Bale stated. “It’s going to ditch the Rwanda scheme, but it’s going to have to come up with other solutions to deal with that particular problem.”
Suella Braverman, a Conservative hardliner on immigration, criticized Starmer’s decision to end the Rwanda pact.
“Years of hard work, acts of Parliament, millions of pounds been spent on a scheme which had it been delivered properly would have worked,” she said. “There are big problems on the horizon which will be I’m afraid caused by Keir Starmer.”Starmer’s Cabinet has already started its work. Foreign Secretary David Lammy commenced his first international trip to Germany, Poland, and Sweden to reinforce bilateral relations. Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced new negotiations next week with NHS junior doctors who have been striking over pay, contributing to the NHS’s long appointment wait times. Source: NBC News
