Labour is reportedly considering a scheme that would see asylum seekers’ claims processed elsewhere.Keir Starmer is mulling “detailed plans” for an offshoring scheme as he seeks to deter Tory attacks on Labour’s alternative to the Rwanda plan, the Times said on Monday.
The Labour leader has previously dismissed the plan to deport people to the African nation as a “gimmick” and made clear his party’s opposition.
However, the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, and shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock have reportedly been speaking to asylum experts, former home secretary David Blunkett and other European countries to draw up an alternative proposal to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel.
Under the plan, asylum claims would be processed overseas, with successful applicants allowed to come to the UK. While explicit backing for an offshoring scheme would mark a significant shift for Labour, Starmer did signal earlier this month that he would not be opposed to considering such an approach.
“Other countries around the world do have schemes where they divert people on the way and process them elsewhere. That’s a different kind of scheme,” he told reporters after a speech in Buckinghamshire. “And, look, I’ll look at any scheme that might work.”
https://theguardian.com/uk-news/202...-considering-offshoring-asylum-seekers-claims