Momentum Criticizes Starmer over ‘Offshoring’ Migrants

Sudan Events – Sumaya Sayed

Keir Starmer is facing criticism from far-left group Momentum over his “disturbing” interest in processing asylum-seekers overseas.
The Labour leader said earlier this month that despite vowing to scrap the Tories’ Rwanda deportation flight proposal if he won office, he was open to so-called “offshoring”.
That is the practice of removing asylum seekers who arrive illegally in the UK to a third country, though – unlike the Rwanda plan – if approved they would then live in Britain.
Momentum, the left-wing activist group launched to push forward Jeremy Corbyn’s agenda when he was Labour leader, issued a statement on Tuesday morning criticising Sir Keir’s offshoring interest.
A Momentum spokesman said: “This is a disturbing report. Labour should not be the party of more deportations and more effective offshoring, and it doesn’t need to be.
“As migration experts have said, the way to minimise perilous small boat crossings is to expand safe routes for refugees.
“Instead of aping inhumane Tory policies like offshoring asylum seekers, Keir Starmer should be standing up for progressive values and migrants’ rights. In doing so, he can offer a practical alternative to the Tories’ cruel and divisive war on migrants.”
Labour insiders have set three tests for any offshoring scheme, according to The Times, which state that the plan must be cost-effective, credible as a deterrent, and “legally watertight”.