New UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has swiftly declared the Conservative’s Rwanda migrant plan “dead and buried.” On his first full day, he emphasized that growth is his government’s top priority. Starmer, celebrating a landslide victory, stated his administration has a mandate for innovative politics.
He began his day with a cabinet meeting that included appointees like Rachel Reeves as finance minister and David Lammy as foreign minister. “We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work,” he encouraged his team.
At a press conference, Starmer firmly stated that he would discontinue Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda migrant plan for handling small boat arrivals. “The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started… I’m not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don’t act as a deterrent,” he declared.
Starmer committed his administration to “driving growth,” having already briefed his ministers on expectations for standards, delivery, and public trust.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to NATO, highlighting discussions with US President Joe Biden and other world leaders about shared economic growth and security aims.
Challenges loom, including a sluggish economy and a cost-of-living crisis. Despite these, Starmer expressed readiness to tackle these issues head-on, ensuring his government’s first duty is security and defence, solidifying an “unshakable support of NATO.”
Internationally, he is set to debut at a NATO summit in Washington next week, confirming the UK’s staunch support for Ukraine in talks with President Zelensky.
The election positioned Labour near its historical 1997 high, while the Conservatives faced a severe defeat. Rishi Sunak’s resignation as Tory leader set the stage for potential infighting within the Conservative Party as they determine their next steps and leadership.
