Starmer’s Strategic Shift: £84M Investment Abroad to Combat Migration Crisis at its Roots

Starmer reveals strategy to tackle unauthorized migration from its origin

Sir Keir Starmer has disclosed a proposal to allocate £84 million towards international health and education initiatives, describing it as "essential to addressing the migration crisis effectively." He also criticizes the former Conservative government for their "neglect in resolving" the issue.

Political correspondent @NifS

Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 8

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The prime minister has declared the allocation of £84 million to assist African and Middle Eastern nations in addressing the migration issue directly at its origin.

Addressing the media at Blenheim Palace during a summit of the European Political Community (EPC), Sir Keir Starmer announced that funds would be allocated for health and education programs, along with humanitarian aid, aiming to tackle the root causes that compel people to leave their homes.

He stated that the initiatives would be crucial for managing the migration crisis because problems in those nations "resonate locally [and] their impacts are felt in our communities," further noting: "In a perilous world, we accomplish nothing and help no one by isolating ourselves."

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An analysis of the allocation revealed that the entirety of the funds will be sourced from the current foreign aid budget.

• £13 million allocated to broaden "migration for development" initiatives in North and East Africa;

• £21 million provided to support multilateral efforts in crucial host and transit nations such as Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Chad;

• £26 million dedicated to projects throughout the Middle East and surrounding areas to aid Syrian refugees;

• £24 million in direct aid to assist communities in Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia.

An extra £2 million is being allocated to assist the projects of the International Organisation for Migration in Libya.

Sir Keir announced that during Thursday's EPC meeting, the government revised its strategy and enhanced its collaboration with European allies to address illegal immigration. This includes bolstering the UK's role in Europol, establishing new partnerships with Slovenia and Slovakia to combat organized crime, and a pledge to enhance intelligence sharing to dismantle criminal networks.

He stated: "We will crush the gangs, dismantle their operational methods, and protect our borders."

In a clear critique of the former Conservative administration's policy of deporting individuals to Rwanda—a policy abandoned by Labour upon their electoral victory—he emphasized: "We will achieve this not by wasting public funds on superficial schemes, but through pragmatic measures that comply with global legal standards."

During his tenure as the director of public prosecutions, the prime people recalled observing "the collaboration across nations to apprehend terrorists and dismantle their operations," and remarked, "I firmly reject the notion that we cannot apply the same efforts to combat organized crimes related to migration.

"Advancement on key concerns such as unauthorized immigration and national security is only possible if you possess the maturity and leadership necessary to engage with our European allies."

"Time has been squandered."

Sir Keir faces mounting pressure to address the issue of Channel crossings, as over 14,000 individuals have already undertaken the perilous trip in 2024.

Highlighting the risks involved, one individual lost their life and 71 others were saved after their inflatable boat sank near the northern French coastline while trying to reach the UK this Wednesday.

Downing Street stated that annually, millions are forced to migrate because of war, environmental disruptions, and humanitarian emergencies, which "burdens the communities that welcome them and exposes at-risk individuals to exploitation." Therefore, they are focusing their assistance on addressing these "primary factors of irregular migration."

When questioned by Sky News' Beth Rigly regarding the magnitude of the crisis, as over 550 individuals have arrived through the route since Labour assumed office two weeks ago, Sir Keir acknowledged that he and his cabinet are dealing with a severe issue left unaddressed by the previous administration.

"He acknowledged the challenges, stating, 'This isn't a simple task.' It's a real measure of governmental efficacy… but we've lost valuable time and resources. We've seen the Home Office focus on a scheme that ultimately failed, and as a result, essential tasks concerning border security have been neglected, from my perspective, and not managed as they ought to have been."

"The evidence is clear from the results. This year, we've achieved unprecedented figures. Such changes cannot be made overnight or even in a week. Just two weeks ago, we were out canvassing, encouraging people to cast their ballots for us. It's not possible to reverse course so swiftly."

"Extensive resources and energy have been invested in Rwanda for a plan that I believed was doomed from the start. The evidence of its failure is clear, especially since the critical issues remain unresolved."

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'The trick failed to deliver'

The prime minister highlighted his administration's swift actions, such as establishing a new Border Security Command to combat human trafficking, reallocating funds from the discontinued Rwanda project, and forming agreements with other European nations during the EPC summit.

"He expressed satisfaction with their progress, stating, "We're rapidly catching up," while noting, "The previous administration has once again left us in a challenging situation, but we are committed to maintaining our momentum."

"The failure to manage border control constitutes a neglect of responsibility, as it is integral to our national security. Instead of responding with a substantive solution, they opted for a superficial tactic. This tactic was ineffective, leaving us with a critical issue that now requires significant effort to resolve."

Discover further details at Sky News: Exposed abuses by Manchester police. Caregiver confesses to murdering 90-year-old woman at her residence. Jay Slater's mother appeals for additional contributions.

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Every European nation, except for Russia and Belarus, received invitations to attend the EPC summit on Thursday. The meeting aims to rally support for Ukraine in anticipation of escalated conflict during the summer months.

However, the incoming Labour administration saw this as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the European Union following the chaotic period of Brexit.

Sir Keir is advocating for a security agreement with the European Union and seeks to resolve various trade issues that have arisen under the Brexit agreement established by previous Conservative leaders.

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