Newly elected British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has swiftly set a transformative agenda for his government, emphasizing a commitment to the people over party politics. In his first press conference and cabinet meeting, Starmer declared, 'The country first, the party later,' underscoring his intention to bring significant changes within the first 100 days of his tenure.
Starmer, who has yet to move into 10 Downing Street, announced plans to visit Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to engage with local authorities before attending the NATO summit in Washington. The summit will focus on security and the ongoing war in Ukraine, with defense and security being top priorities for the new administration. However, Starmer refrained from setting a specific date to achieve the 2.5% defense spending target.
One of the most notable policy reversals announced by Starmer is the termination of the controversial plan to deport migrants to Rwanda. The plan, introduced by the previous Conservative government, was deemed ineffective and inhumane by Starmer, who stated, 'The Rwanda plan was dead and buried before it began.' Instead, Starmer aims to tackle the root causes of illegal immigration by targeting people smuggling gangs and establishing an elite border security command.
Addressing the National Health Service (NHS) crisis, Starmer outlined his strategy to create 40,000 additional weekly appointments to alleviate the backlog in medical and cancer treatments. He attributed the current state of the NHS to the failures of the previous government and emphasized the need for honest assessments to facilitate effective solutions.
Starmer also highlighted the dire condition of the British prison system, describing it as 'broken' due to overcrowding and inadequate facilities. He stressed the necessity of comprehensive reforms, acknowledging that immediate fixes are unrealistic but pledging long-term improvements.
In terms of social policy, Starmer reiterated his commitment to building 1.5 million social houses during his five-year term and finding a humanitarian solution for migration and political asylum. He also addressed the controversial two-child benefit limit, indicating that while he made tough promises during the campaign, he intends to follow through on them.
The new prime minister has appointed Sir Patrick Vallance, known for his role in the anti-COVID campaign, as the minister of science, innovation, and technology, signaling a focus on scientific and technological advancements in his government.
Despite the electoral victory, Starmer has shown respect for his predecessors by delaying his move to Downing Street. He and his family, currently residing in Kentish Town, plan to relocate after his return from the NATO summit.
- Starmer's decision to scrap the Rwanda deportation plan marks a significant shift from the policies of former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. The plan faced substantial opposition from human rights groups and legal challenges, with no refugees being deported under the agreement.
- The new border security command will integrate immigration and law enforcement specialists, including the domestic intelligence service MI5, to enhance border control and combat illegal crossings effectively.
- The British Home Office recently reported that 12,313 people crossed into Britain this year, an 18% increase from the same period last year. However, the total number of arrivals in 2023 was 29,437, a 36% decrease from the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
- Immigration has been a central political issue in Britain since Brexit, with previous governments promising to 'take back control' of the country's borders. Starmer's approach aims to balance humane treatment of migrants with robust border security measures.
