Labour ready to pay Vietnam, Kurdistan and Turkey to stop small boats

Labour is ready to pay governments in Vietnam, Kurdistan and Turkey to help stop the flow of illegal migrants to Britain, Sir Keir Starmer said today.

The Prime Minister said he was prepared to look at 'anything' that would help slow the wave of migrants crossing the Channel illegally.

He declined to comment directly on reports the Government is in advanced talks with administrations in Kurdistan and Vietnam over deals in which Britain would pay them to help stop migrants heading for the UK.

But Sir Keir indicated he was not against the principle of paying third countries to help tackle the Channel migrant crisis.

'Anything else we can do to stop people leaving in the first place is the right thing,' he said.

Sir Keir's comments risk charges of hypocrisy, given his decision to scrap the previous Tory government's Rwanda scheme in his first week in office.

But Government sources said any deals with third countries to deal with migration would be on a much smaller scale than Rwanda.

The last government planned to deport Channel migrants directly to the African state, from where they would have no right to come to the UK.

The move was seen as a vital deterrent to break the business model of the smuggling gangs.

Labour's proposal is modelled on financial deals struck by Italy with countries like Libya and Tunisia, which have proved effective in slowing the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Sir Keir discussed the schemes with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in September during talks in Rome.

He is also examining Italy's deal with Albania, which could see illegal arrivals in Italy sent to the Balkans country for processing.

In a crucial difference with the Rwanda scheme, those whose asylum claims are successful would then be allowed to travel to Italy legally. Only those whose claims were refused would face deportation.

Government sources said Sir Keir and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper remained opposed to a direct replacement for the Rwanda deal.

Sir Keir said his main focus remained on 'smashing' the people-smuggling gangs and deporting those with no right to be here where they can safely be sent home.

'I don't think this is an area where we should just do one thing,' he said. 'We have got to do everything that we can.

'I am absolutely clear in my mind that taking down the gangs is the single most effective way of stopping the boats going across the Channel.

'People are making a huge amount of money for the journeys people are making across obviously several countries to the north coast of France.

'Intercepting and taking those gangs down is hugely important and it will be one of the biggest disincentives if we can break the gangs that are running these.

'I have never accepted that these gangs can't be taken down. I know I have said this many times but I have worked for five years as chief prosecutor when we took down terrorist gangs, we took down people who were moving guns and drugs and people across borders.'