HJS 'The Prospective Immigration Policy of Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party' Report.indd

What became known as the ‘Channel migrant crisis’ involved the movement of tens of thousands of people from various regions of the world, mainly Africa and the Middle East, who attempt to reach the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats. [...] The Policies of Previous Governments The complexity of illegal migration to the UK, and the ever-changing circumstances, rendered many of the Government’s policies ineffective, especially from a legal perspective. [...] The Asylum and Immigration Act in 2004, for instance, was portrayed as the “final phase” on immigration and asylum reform, yet the two subsequent decades of crises and additional laws make it evident that the act failed to address the crux of the matter. [...] In a January 2016 blog piece, Starmer appeared to liken the “bullying” of migrants in the Calais camp to the suffering of the Jews during the Holocaust. [...] He claimed that: “This policy would restrict the right to remain in the UK for those in skilled professions and who have been contributing to the economy and society for five years.” 93 He also, during the same period, used his speech to the British American Business Immigration Conference to highlight the skills shortage in the UK, blaming it partly on a failure to invest in UK workers.