Sir Keir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage’s Reform Party of engaging in a “politics of grievance” as home secretary Yvette Cooper addresses Parliament on plans to reform the immigration system and border security.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the opening of Parliament, Sir Keir accused Mr Farage of “simply putting forward unworkable, fanciful ideas that just aren’t going to work”.
Sir Keir’s government has come under fierce criticism for its handling of immigration, particularly around the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
It comes as the home secretary outlines reforms to the immigration system to MPs as they return to Westminster for the first time since July.
She will say the government’s overhaul of the “broken” asylum system will contribute to ending the use of asylum hotels, an issue which has led to widespread protests over the summer.
The BBC has reported that she plans to tighten rules for migrants granted asylum to bring their families to the UK, including tougher English language standards and access to sufficient funds.
Cooper: Asylum hotels must be closed in an orderly manner
Yvette Cooper has reiterated the need to close all asylum hotels “in a controlled and orderly manner”.
“We need to close all asylum hotels and we need to do so for good. But it must be done in a controlled and orderly manner,” she said.
Cooper says family reunion visas are ‘not sustainable’
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has said that refugee family reunion visas are “not sustainable” under the current model.
“Reforms are needed,” she said, suggesting they would include longer periods of residence in the UK until families can seek refuge.
Cooper begins Parliament address
Home secretary Yvette Cooper has begun her address to Parliament.
Keir Starmer accidentally calls Angela Rayner an ‘incredible prime minister’
What is the refugee family reunification route?
Yvette Cooper is about to announce changes to the family reunification route for refugees, but what is this?
The safe legal route to the UK is set up for people who have refugee status in Britain. Refugees, who have had their asylum claims assessed and deemed successful, can apply for family members to join them in the UK. This is often husbands who have made difficult journeys to the UK who then apply to bring their wives and children to sanctuary.
In order to qualify, the applicant and their partner must be in a lasting relationship. This qualifies as in a marriage, civil partnership, or in a relationship for at least two years.
The couple will need to prove that they communicate regularly, support each other financially, and care for any children they have together. When applying for a child, the child must be under the age of 18.
Home secretary to address Parliament shortly
Yvette Cooper is shortly about to address Parliament about reforms to the immigration system and border security.
We will bring you lines from that as they come.
Family reunion was the ‘last safe available route for women and children’, charity says
Responding to Yvette Cooper’s upcoming announcement on changes to the refugee family reunion route, Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: “We are forever hearing cries that refugees seeking protection should do so through official channels, but here we have the government restricting the last available safe route for women and children.
“Shutting off the hope of family reunification will only force more women and children to take dangerous journeys to seek sanctuary, including risking their lives by crossing the Channel.
“This is an ill-conceived approach from a Government that won’t stand up to the rhetoric of Reform, nor the far-right hate we are witnessing on our streets, but is instead mimicking it and making things substantially worse for refugees, communities and themselves.”
Starmer backs Rayner despite tax claims
Angela Rayner is a “great story of British success”, the Prime Minister said, adding it was a “mistake” for people to brief against her or talk her down.
Sir Keir Starmer told Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Angela is Deputy Prime Minister of this country, that’s an incredible achievement.
“And Angela came from a very humble background, battled all sorts of challenges along the way, and there she is proudly – and I’m proud of her – as our Deputy Prime Minister.”
His comments come after recent reports that Ms Rayner saved £40,000 in stamp duty when buying a flat in Hove, East Sussex, after telling tax authorities it was her main home. A spokesperson for Ms Rayner previously said she paid all her taxes.
Sir Keir added: “Angela has had people briefing against her and talking her down over and over again.
“It’s a mistake, by the way. Angela is an incredible prime minister… Deputy Prime Minister, but what a great story of British success that we are a country where Angela Rayner could be our Deputy Prime Minister.
“I’m proud of that. I think we should be proud as a country that Angela Rayner is our Deputy Prime Minister, and that, by the way, will give I don’t know how many working-class children, particularly girls, a real sense of aspiration.”
Starmer warned he must shut migrant hotels or face losing Labour voters to Reform
Farage offering ‘fanciful’ solutions on migration, says Starmer
Nigel Farage is offering “fanciful arrangements that are just not going to work” on migration, the prime minister has said, accusing Reform UK of representing “the politics of grievance”.
Speaking about the push to close down asylum hotels in Britain, Sir Keir Starmer told BBC 5Live: “The choice here is between an orderly sensible way of fixing a problem we inherited from the Tories, or fanciful arrangements that are just not going to work.
“Nigel Farage and Reform are just the politics of grievance. They feed on grievance. They don’t want the problem solved because they’ve got no reason to exist if the problems are solved. The politics of grievance simply puts forward unworkable fanciful ideas that just aren’t going to work.”
He added: “When it comes to the asylum hotels, I want them emptied, I’ve been really clear about that. I completely understand why people are so concerned about it. The only way to empty them is an orderly, systematic working through of the cases as quickly as possible and then returning those people who should not be here.”
