In a move to address the ongoing small boats crisis and reform the immigration system, the Labour Party has pledged to establish temporary “Nightingale courts” aimed at expediting asylum decisions. This announcement comes as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer continues to advocate for a comprehensive solution to the issue while navigating criticism from various quarters.
Sir Keir’s recent visit to The Hague in the Netherlands served as a platform to promote his party’s approach to the small boats crisis, emphasising the need to “take control” of the situation. However, his proposals have faced criticism from both political ends, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman accusing him of seeking to “hand Brussels the keys to our immigration system.”
While Sir Keir has indicated a willingness to engage in discussions with Brussels, potentially involving the UK accepting a quota of asylum seekers from the EU in exchange for managing arrivals across the English Channel, his primary focus remains on dismantling the criminal smuggling networks facilitating the perilous small boat journeys from France.
As part of Labour’s comprehensive immigration reform plan, the party announced several key measures. These include the commitment to eliminate the use of hotels, barges, and former military sites for housing asylum seekers under a Labour government. The party pledges to recruit over 1,000 additional Home Office caseworkers, representing a 50% increase in staffing levels, to reduce the existing backlog of asylum claims.
Furthermore, Labour plans to expedite decisions on applications from “safe” countries, specifically Albania and India. Drawing inspiration from the government’s deployment of temporary “Nightingale courts” to handle the pandemic-related backlog of criminal cases, Labour proposes a similar concept to enhance the capacity to process asylum-related legal challenges.
A new returns unit, supported by 1,000 staff members, will also be established to triage and fast-track removals of individuals who do not meet the criteria for asylum.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, “These plans will go hand in hand with our plans to stop the criminal smuggling gangs, put stronger powers in place, and get a new security agreement, including working with Europol so that we can tackle the problem at the source. Labour will take back control of our asylum system.”
Labour’s proposals aim to eliminate the need for costly accommodations such as hotels and barges, which the party claims cost taxpayers over £2 billion annually. The plans are presented as temporary measures to address the backlog, with new staff employed on two-year contracts.
As Labour seeks to clarify its stance on the small boats issue in anticipation of a likely general election, the party has committed to rejecting the Conservative Government’s Rwanda proposals, championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. These proposals, which involve deporting irregular asylum seekers, are currently facing legal challenges.
