Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has criticized the Conservative government, stating that the latest figures from the ONS indicate that the Tories were running an “open borders experiment” deliberately. He expressed concern about the significant increase in net migration under the Tories, calling it unprecedented and off the scale. Starmer claimed that this surge in immigration was not mere bad luck but a deliberate policy decision by the previous government. He emphasized the need for immigration to go down significantly and outlined plans to crack down on employers exploiting the system and to reform the points-based system.
Furthermore, Starmer defended a deal transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and refused to comment on Donald Trump’s alleged dislike for the agreement. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to reducing immigration numbers and stated that a white paper with a plan to achieve this will be published soon. Additionally, the Scottish government announced its decision to restore winter fuel payments for all pensioners next year, ensuring fairness and dignity for older people in the country. Lastly, the UK signed a deal with Iraq to tackle people smugglers in Europe, demonstrating a proactive approach to border security.
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