Starmer’s Strategic Shift: Tackling the Migration Crisis with £84M Investment in Health and Education Abroad

Starmer Reveals Strategy to Tackle Unauthorized Immigration from the Origin

Sir Keir Starmer has disclosed a proposal to allocate £84 million towards international health and education initiatives, describing this approach as crucial for effectively managing the immigration crisis. He also criticizes the former Conservative government for neglecting their responsibilities in addressing the issue.

Political correspondent @NifS

Thursday, July 18, 2024, 20:

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The prime minister has declared the allocation of £84 million to support African and Middle Eastern nations, aiming to address the root causes of the migration issue.

During a media briefing at Blenheim Palace, amidst a gathering of influential figures for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, Sir Keir Starmer announced that funding would be allocated to health and education programs, along with humanitarian aid, aiming to tackle the root causes that compel individuals to leave their homes.

He stated that the initiatives would be an essential component in addressing the migration crisis since problems in those regions have repercussions that are felt locally, affecting our communities directly. He emphasized, "In a perilous global environment, isolating ourselves helps no one and resolves nothing."

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

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

• £21 million directed towards multilateral assistance for principal host and transit nations such as Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Chad;

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

• £24 million in direct support for community development 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 had revised its strategy and enhanced its collaboration with European allies to address illegal migration. This included expanding the UK’s role in Europol, establishing new collaborative efforts with Slovenia and Slovakia to combat organized crime, and a pledge to enhance intelligence sharing to dismantle criminal networks.

He stated: "We will dismantle the gangs, disrupt their operations, and protect our borders."

In what seemed to be a sharp critique of the former Conservative administration's policy of deporting individuals to Rwanda—a plan abandoned by Labour upon their electoral victory—he emphasized: "We will achieve this not by squandering public funds on superficial measures, but through feasible solutions that comply with global legal standards."

Speaking about his tenure as the head of public prosecutions, the prime minister recounted his experiences with international collaboration to capture terrorists and dismantle their operations. He emphasized, "I firmly believe that if we can tackle terrorism this way, we can also combat organized crime in migration with similar collaborative efforts."

"Advancements in areas of significant concern, such as unauthorized immigration and national security, hinge on your ability to demonstrate leadership and maturity by engaging with our European allies."

'Time has been squandered'

Sir Keir is facing pressure to address the issue of Channel crossings, as over 14,000 individuals have embarked on the perilous trip in 2024.

Highlighting the perilous nature of the journey, one individual lost their life and 71 others were saved after their inflatable boat lost air off the northern coast of France while they were trying to reach the UK on Wednesday.

Downing Street stated that each year, millions of individuals relocate due to warfare, environmental changes, and humanitarian emergencies, which "burdens the communities that welcome them and exposes at-risk groups to exploitation." Therefore, their efforts are focused on addressing the "primary reasons for irregular migration."

When questioned by Beth Rigby of Sky News regarding the magnitude of the issue, as over 550 individuals have arrived through this pathway since Labour assumed office, Sir Keir stated that he and his team are taking over a severe problem that the previous administration failed to tackle.

"He acknowledged the difficulty," he stated. "This is a challenge for the government… yet we've lost time and resources. We've had a Home Office focused on a futile tactic, which meant that the necessary efforts on border security were not carried out as they should have been, in my opinion."

"The evidence is clear from the results. This year, we've achieved unprecedented figures. Such a change isn't possible overnight or even within a week. Just two weeks ago, we were actively canvassing, encouraging individuals to cast their votes for us. We can't make such a swift turnaround."

"An immense amount of resources and energy have been invested in Rwanda. I believe it was a plan doomed to fail from the start. The evidence lies in its failure to resolve the critical issues at hand."

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'The trick failed to deliver'

The prime minister highlighted the swift actions taken by his administration, such as establishing a new Border Security Command aimed at combating human trafficking, reallocating funds from the discontinued Rwanda project, and forming agreements with other European partners during the EPC.

"He expressed satisfaction about their progress, stating, "I'm glad we're catching up." He continued, "We'll maintain our quick pace, although the previous administration has put us in another tough spot."

"The failure to manage border control represents a neglect of responsibility as it's a matter of national security. Instead of providing a substantive response, they resorted to a superficial solution that proved ineffective. Now, we find ourselves in a critical situation that requires significant effort to resolve."

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Every European nation, except Russia and Belarus, has been called to attend the EPC summit this Thursday. The meeting aims to rally backing for Ukraine amid anticipations of escalated conflicts throughout the summer.

The incoming Labour administration saw this as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the European Union following the disruptive period caused by Brexit.

Sir Keir is aiming to forge a security agreement with the EU and seeks to resolve certain trading issues arising from the Brexit agreement established by previous Conservative leaders.

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