Labour is under growing scrutiny over its proposed migrant returns policy, which involves sending failed asylum seekers to third countries.
The move has drawn comparisons to the Conservative Party’s controversial Rwanda plan, though Labour insists the two approaches are fundamentally different.
Under the Conservative plan, all individuals who entered the UK illegally were to be deported to Rwanda, regardless of their asylum status.
The policy faced strong opposition from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which raised legal and ethical concerns.
Labour’s approach, by contrast, targets individuals who have exhausted all avenues of appeal and no longer qualify for asylum under international law.
The UNHRC has tentatively supported the principle behind Labour’s concept, describing such individuals as not being in need of international protection.
Despite this endorsement, the Labour policy is already stirring unease within the party, with some members viewing it as a softened echo of the Tory strategy.
Details of the plan remain vague. According to a Home Office source, there are ongoing challenges in returning individuals to unstable countries like Afghanistan.
The proposed solution includes offering a temporary stay in a third country, which could be withdrawn if conditions in their homeland improve.
Key questions remain unanswered. It is still unclear how long these individuals would remain in the third country or whether alternative long-term resettlement options would be available. The plan opens up complex legal, diplomatic and humanitarian considerations that the government will need to address.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed interest in partnerships with European nations, such as Italy’s arrangement with Albania, where rejected asylum seekers are processed outside of the EU.
However, Labour’s plan is still in its early stages and lacks a clear implementation framework.
The party’s willingness to float this policy appears to reflect increasing political pressure. With Channel crossings continuing at record levels and mounting criticism from right-wing parties like Reform UK, the government is seeking to demonstrate a tough stance on illegal migration while avoiding the legal pitfalls that derailed previous efforts.
As Labour continues to shape its immigration agenda, questions over feasibility, human rights compliance, and international cooperation remain at the forefront of the debate.
