UK Politics

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailLabour is considering a scheme that would see asylum seekers’ claims processed elsewhere, according to reports. Sir Keir Starmer’s party is considering “detailed plans” for a so-called offshoring scheme, as he seeks to deter Tory attacks on Labour’s alternative to the Rwanda plan.The Labour leader has previously dismissed the bid to deport some asylum seekers to the African nation as a “gimmick” and made clear his party’s opposition.But The Times reports that shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock have been speaking to asylum experts, former home secretary Lord David Blunkett and other European countries to draw up an alternative proposal to tackle small boats crossings in the Channel.The plan would see migrants having asylum claims 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, Sir Keir 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.“And, look, I’ll look at any scheme that might work,” he told reporters after a speech in Buckinghamshire.Labour has been contacted for comment about the report, which claims that the party has drawn up “three tests” for any such scheme – that it is cost-effective, credible enough to deter migrants, and would avoid the legal challenges that have delayed the Rwanda plan.Prime minister Rishi Sunak and home secretary James Cleverly are hoping fresh legislation, currently in the Commons, will be enough to revive the flagship policy after it was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court earlier this year.According to The Times a Labour “red line” would be any scheme that would automatically block migrants being granted asylum in the UK, with British officials also required to be in charge of processing claims.This is not the first time the party has looked at such an approach.In the early 2000s, Lord Blunkett and the Blair government were believed to be in talks with Tanzania about the possibility of housing asylum seekers in the country while claims were processed in the UK.Lord Blunkett told the paper: “What’s absolutely crucial is who is doing the processing and that they’re allowed back into the country. Without it, you’re merely transferring the problem on to somebody else. But if British officials are doing the processing, then you’ve got a scheme that fits with the conventions.”It comes as Sir Keir and his frontbench team enter a crucial period, with a general election likely to be less than 12 months away.The Conservatives have sought to make tackling illegal migration a crunch issue, with stopping the boats one of Mr Sunak’s “five priorities”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailReform UK has said it plans to stand against the Tories in every seat at the next election in a move which could spell electoral trouble for Rishi Sunak.The party, which contested the 2019 general election as the Brexit Party, has given “cast-iron guarantees” to top figures that it will not do a deal with the Tories.In the 2019 contest, former leader Nigel Farage stood down hundreds of candidates to help Boris Johnson beat Jeremy Corbyn to No 10.Nigel Farage, the former Reform UK party leader with Tice, his successorBut Richard Tice, who took over as leader in 2021, has told senior figures including former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe that he will not repeat the move, The Sunday Times reported. The development will set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street, with Reform threatening to split the Tory vote in key seats across the country – boosting Labour’s chances.Luke Tryl, director at pollsters More in Common, said Reform could see the Tories lose more than 30 additional seats.He told The Independent: “Reform could well be the difference between a hung parliament and a Labour majority.”The party’s support has been boosted by growing discontent at Mr Sunak’s record on immigration and asylum, with around one-tenth of voters currently supporting Reform.And while it has so far failed to live up to the poll rating in a series of by-elections, in two recent contests – Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth – its vote share was larger than the amount by which Labour won.Prime minister Rishi Sunak is already facing a difficult general election campaign “The Tories can take some hope to date that Reform’s by-election performances haven’t been as good as those poll ratings, meaning upcoming contests in Blackpool and Wellingborough will be a good test of how real that reform threat is,” Mr Tryl added.Reform could also be boosted by the return of Mr Farage from his stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. He has spoken regularly to Mr Tice since his return and the pair are expected to discuss his “future role” in the coming days.Mr Tice told The Sunday Times: “In the 2024 election year we will be ready whenever it comes, spring, summer or autumn. We will be standing in seats everywhere in England, Scotland and Wales.“Many, including Tory MPs and commentators, still don’t believe us, but I have news for them: you are seriously underestimating our intent to have a massive impact in this coming election.”A senior party figure meanwhile said the “toxic Tories are done and finished… we will attack them mercilessly”. More

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailDavid Cameron has warned that Britain will not tolerate the escalation of Iran’s “malign” activities on the world stage.The former prime minister described Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah as proxies for Iran and said they are contributing to an “extremely high” level of danger and insecurity around the world.Lord Cameron, who was made a peer in order to become Rishi Sunak’s foreign secretary last month, said Iran must be sent a clear message escalation will not be tolerated.Foreign secretary Lord David Cameron has made two visits to the Middle East since returning to government And he promised that Britain would work with allies to develop a strong set of deterrent measures against Tehran.After a trip to France, Italy, Jordan and Egypt, Lord Cameron told the Telegraph: “Iran is a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world – there’s no doubt about that. You’ve got the Houthis, you’ve got Hezbollah, you’ve got the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have actually been attacking British and American bases, troops.“And, of course, Hamas. So you’ve got all of these proxies, and I think it’s incredibly important that, first of all, Iran receives an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated.“Second of all, we need to work with our allies to develop a really strong set of deterrent measures against Iran, and it’s important that we do that. The level of danger and insecurity in the world is at an extremely high level compared with previous years and decades, and the Iran threat is a part of that picture.”It comes as Iranian-backed Houthi soldiers have stepped up attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea in recent weeks.The Houthi rebels are understood to be targeting ships using the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with the pro-Hamas group seeking to disrupt ships set for Israel.Last week, oil giant BP became the latest major firm to pause shipping through the Red Sea over the attacks.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of IranLord Cameron summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat in the UK to the foreign office on Friday to “make clear these threats will not be tolerated”.It comes amid growing concern in government at Iran’s increasing aggression on the world stage.Grant Shapps also sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation in the Gulf, with Houthis attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.The defence secretary said the UK would not allow the critical maritime route to become a no-go area.In an interview with The Sunday Times, Mr Shapps said: “We are committed to protecting British interests [in the Gulf] – vessels sailing under a UK flag, or with British sailors or carrying goods destined for our shores.“We have seen the disruption the terrorist attacks have caused — with major operators, including Maersk and BP, avoiding the region. We can’t allow any maritime area to become a no-go area, particularly such a vital route. But wider than that, we need to promote a safer world. The spate of illegal attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.”He added that the “rules-based world order” means Britain must be committed to repelling the attacks and protecting global trade. More