September 17th 2024.
Many have described the current Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as the most right-wing administration since Mussolini's rule in WWII. It is concerning, then, that one of the first actions taken by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer upon entering Number 10 was to scrap the controversial "Rwanda plan". This decision was widely welcomed as a departure from the Conservative party's inhumane immigration policies.
The Rwanda scheme, in my opinion, was a costly and cruel approach to immigration control, and a clear example of the Tories' "hostile environment" policy. However, with Starmer's recent trip to meet with Italy's far-right Prime Minister, it seems that the new PM may still be focused on deterrence and punishment rather than finding safe and legal routes for those attempting to cross the Channel in small boats.
I do not use the term "far-right" lightly when describing Meloni's government. She has been a member of multiple fascistic political organizations, including the youth wing of the "Italian Social Movement" which was a successor to Mussolini's party during the war. Her hardline stance on immigration would even make Nigel Farage blush. Is this really who we want to learn from?
Meloni has gone so far as to call for a naval blockade against North Africa, and has ridiculed those who have pointed out the potential consequences of such an act. It is deeply concerning that our government would seek advice or ideas from a far-right leader. While it is important for our government to engage in constructive diplomacy with other nations, no British Prime Minister, from any party, should be looking to far-right leaders for guidance.
Starmer's trip was apparently focused on learning about Meloni's approach to migration, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stating that the government is interested in Italy's asylum deal with Albania. However, this so-called "Albania deal" is essentially a rehashed version of the Rwanda scheme, costing hundreds of millions of euros to scare off asylum seekers and deport them to Albania where they will be detained while their claims are processed. This policy is based on the notion that it will deter asylum seekers by making them fear being sent to a poor country with little hope.
Given the strong opposition to the Rwanda scheme from various civil society groups in the UK, Starmer can expect to face robust challenges to any policy that follows similar principles and seeks to threaten vulnerable individuals. The Green MPs will be at the forefront of this opposition. While there are some differences between the Albania scheme and the Rwanda one, the fundamental cruelty of the policy remains the same: using fear to deter asylum seekers instead of providing safe and legal routes for them to apply for asylum.
When Prime Minister Starmer announced the scrapping of the Rwanda scheme, he stated that it was a "gimmick" that did not act as a deterrent and would only deport a small percentage of those arriving in small boats. This raises the question of whether we should be seeking advice from right-wing governments. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It is notable that Labour's criticism of the Rwanda scheme was based on its effectiveness and cost rather than its inhumanity and what is morally right. However, a cruel policy that complies with fiscal rules and human rights is still a cruel policy. Starmer's decision thus far suggests that he has not yet found the courage to break away from the previous government's "tough on immigration" stance.
The new Labour government has already promised to increase the number of deportations, which only adds to the concerns raised by Starmer's visit to consult with Meloni. We must not return to the Conservative approach of outsourcing and offshoring our international and moral obligations to refugees and asylum seekers. The Green MPs in Parliament will continue to make the case, as Caroline Lucas did before us, that the government must stop this performative cruelty and focus on providing safe and legal routes for those seeking safety. This, and not taking lessons from far-right governments, is the only humane and effective way to put an end to the human trafficking industry and prevent the tragic loss of life in the Channel.
Do you have a story you would like to share? Please get in touch by emailing jess.email. Share your views in the comments below.
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