Across the pond in America the drawbridge has been raised. In one foul swoop of selfishness and callous inhumanity, the new Trump administration has cut off their help to those around the world who most need it. USAID has been almost entirely shut down, the processing of asylum seekers has been halted, and a plan for mass deportation is underway. With America’s often self attributed position as ‘leader of the free world’ under threat, there’s an urgent need for the UK to fill these heralded boots.
However, recent changes in immigration policy by Labour have signalled a concerning step in a similarly-isolationist direction. Keir Starmer’s government has announced measures that will deny citizenship to refugees that arrive on small boats. Updated guidance from the home office states that those who have “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”. This leaves refugees no way to become citizens given the glaring omission of safe routes to claiming asylum from any Labour Minister that has spoken on the issue.
This announcement has rightfully been greeted by outrage from both asylum charities and those few MP’s whose moral compasses still point in the right direction. By pushing through with this legislation Labour have shown that they are no longer able to sit atop a moral high horse. This policy punishes people fleeing war and persecution for no reason other than the fear of losing political ground to Reform. Their capitulation to this politics of fear is also apparent in the “Reform style” social media posts that have been used to brag about the success of the new government in carrying out deportations.
This is a particularly disappointing moment for anyone who believed that the defeat of the Conservative Party last July was also the defeat of the kind of politics that has used the most vulnerable as political scapegoats. I want more than anything to feel hope that Labour has what it takes to protect British democracy from the rising tide of populism in Europe and around the world. However, with a policy like this, the crashing of waves sounds ever louder.
This decision highlights Labour’s biggest mistake yet: its failing to introduce nuance into an immigration debate which has for so long been malnourished of it. Without nuance, it’s impossible to introduce policy that will actually improve the welfare of the country. Without talk of the vital work of immigrants in our schools and hospitals, on our farms and in contributing to the diverse culture that actually makes our country great, discussions will never be productive. As it seems increasingly likely that immigration will be the focal point of the next General Election, Labour must ensure that a well-informed image of immigration is presented to the electorate.
Obviously, Labour cannot afford to talk of open borders or even increasing levels of immigration. That would be like shooting themselves in the foot given the overwhelming importance of immigration in the political debate. However Labour need to call out the obsession with small boats for what it really is: bullshit. In 2024, 36,816 crossed on small boats, a small fraction of the 730,000 net migration figure that was recorded in the previous year. On top of that, around three quarters of those that arrive on small boats seeking asylum are granted it. Small boat arrivals have been singled out because they can be painted as ‘illegal’ to provoke fear of immigration. The truth is that the majority are asylum seekers who are in no way illegal. Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights states “everyone has the right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution in other countries”.
By coming out with policy and rhetoric that reinforces the far-right’s painting of immigration as the great evil of modern life, Labour are setting themselves a trap. The onus on reducing immigration will only grow if debate continues down the same path. Reform’s pledge to “freeze immigration” could well become the demand for voters if it does. A Labour Party both unwilling and unable to deliver this will be left at the mercy of disillusioned voters and will give Reform (already ahead of Labour in some polls) even more ground.
If “tyranny is the deliberate removal of nuance”, the far-right’s pollution of the immigration debate must be seen as what it truly is: an attempt to grab and cling onto power. Labour cannot afford to give them a helping hand by legitimising the politics of hate that they thrive off of. If they fail to change the nature of the debate, the horrific reality of Prime Minister Farage will become increasingly likely. Hope is still alive; we have seen in the angry outcry that followed this decision that there are many people that do still care. Labour must listen to these voices before it is too late.
