Starmer Calls for Delay on Rwanda Deportation Flights

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under mounting pressure to halt the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda due to legal challenges and concerns raised by the United Nations and various human rights groups.

Responding to 50 Conservative MPs, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the "inhumane" policy should be scrapped and urged Johnson to focus on providing asylum seekers with support in the UK.

Labour has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the policy, with Starmer previously describing it as "unworkable, unethical and expensive." He calls on the government to establish a fair and compassionate asylum system in the UK.

The UK government has defended the Rwanda deportation policy as a way to deter dangerous and illegal journeys across the English Channel.

However, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has criticized the scheme, arguing that it violates international law by shifting the UK's asylum responsibilities to another country with a poor human rights record.

The first deportation flight was due to take off on June 14th, but it was grounded after legal challenges made it to the European Court of Human Rights. Another flight is due to take place within weeks.

Starmer's call for a delay comes as the policy faces further legal scrutiny and international condemnation.

The UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold a debate on the Rwanda deportation plan, and the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the UK to halt the policy.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also criticized the policy, saying it is "the opposite of the nature of God."

The UK government has spent more than £120 million on the Rwanda deportation scheme, which includes the cost of accommodation and flights for asylum seekers.

The government has argued that it is necessary to deter illegal immigration and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.

However, critics argue that the policy is inhumane and will not be effective in reducing the number of people seeking asylum in the UK.

In a speech on Tuesday, Starmer said the UK should be a country that "treats people with humanity and compassion."

He urged the government to abandon the Rwanda deportation policy and focus on tackling the root causes of migration, such as poverty and conflict in the developing world.

Starmer's call for a delay in the Rwanda deportation flights has been welcomed by human rights groups and the opposition Liberal Democrats.

Conclusion

The UK government's Rwanda deportation policy has been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups, the UN, and religious leaders such as the Archbishop of Canterbury. With mounting pressure from the opposition Labour Party and legal challenges, the policy is facing an uncertain future. The outcome of the legal challenges and international scrutiny will likely determine whether the government proceeds with the deportations.