Keir Starmer's plan to join an EU-wide returns agreement would mean 'tens of thousands more illegal migrants coming to the UK', James Cleverly claims

  • Labour dismissed the comments denied plans to join 'any EU quota scheme'

By HARRIET LINE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Sir Keir Starmer's plan to join an EU-wide returns agreement would mean 'tens of thousands more illegal migrants coming to the UK', the Home Secretary claimed yesterday.

James Cleverly said the Labour leader would join an EU migration pact and 'accept forced illegal migrant quotas from the EU'.

But Labour dismissed his comments and said the party 'won't be joining any EU quota scheme'.

Sir Keir revealed in the autumn that he would seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who come to Britain if he becomes prime minister.

Labour has since said the scheme would not be based on quotas nor would it be part of an existing scheme.

Sir Keir revealed in the autumn that he would seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who come to Britain if he becomes prime minister

Sir Keir revealed in the autumn that he would seek an EU-wide returns agreement for asylum seekers who come to Britain if he becomes prime minister

Yesterday the EU agreed to overhaul its asylum system to share out the cost and work of hosting migrants more evenly across the bloc.

The plan includes more border detention centres and speedier deportations in a bid to limit the number of people coming in.

Mr Cleverly seized on the announcement of the pact, writing on X, formely known as Twitter, that Sir Keir 'wants to join this'.

The Home Secretary said: 'He would accept forced illegal migrant quotas from the EU. This would mean tens of thousands more illegal migrants coming to the UK. We cannot accept this.'

But Stephen Kinnock, Labour's shadow immigration minister, said: 'This is made-up rubbish, we've made it clear we won't be joining any EU quota scheme.

'The Tories are so keen to distract from their own disastrous failings on Rwanda, small boats and asylum that now they are just lying about Labour.

'The Tories have undermined our border security, broken our asylum system and bust the Home Office budget. The country cannot afford more of this Conservative chaos.

'Labour has a serious plan to smash the criminal gangs with a new cross-border police unit, recruit 1000 new caseworkers to clear the backlog and end hotel use, and set up a new Returns Unit to ensure that those with no right to be here are swiftly returned.'

James Cleverly said the Labour leader would join an EU migration pact and ¿accept forced illegal migrant quotas from the EU¿

James Cleverly said the Labour leader would join an EU migration pact and 'accept forced illegal migrant quotas from the EU'

Migrant arrivals in the EU are down from the 2015 peak of more than a million, but have steadily crept up from a 2020 low to 255,000 in the year to November (File Image)

Migrant arrivals in the EU are down from the 2015 peak of more than a million, but have steadily crept up from a 2020 low to 255,000 in the year to November (File Image)

The EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum should start taking effect next year, when it is expected to be formally adopted by the European Council and European Parliament.

Migrant arrivals in the EU are down from the 2015 peak of more than a million, but have steadily crept up from a 2020 low to 255,000 in the year to November, with more than half crossing the Mediterranean from Africa, mainly to Italy.

Previous efforts to share out the responsibility of hosting migrants have foundered because eastern member states were unwilling to take in people who had arrived in Greece, Italy and other countries.

Under the new system, countries not at the border will have to choose between accepting their share of 30,000 asylum applicants or paying at least 20,000 euros (£17,300) per person into an EU fund.

The screening system envisaged will seek to distinguish between those in need of international protection and others who are not.

People whose asylum applications have a low chance of success, such as those from India, Tunisia or Turkey, can be prevented from entering the EU and detained at the border, as can people seen as representing a threat to security.

LabourKeir StarmerJames Cleverly

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