UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak drew election battle lines on migration on Thursday, vowing deportations to Rwanda will begin within weeks if voters keep him in power.
Mr Sunak used the first full day of campaigning for Britain's July 4 election to cast himself as the candidate for those who "believe in stopping the boats".
But critics seized on new figures showing migration added 685,000 people to the UK's population last year to lay "chaos and failure" at the door of Mr Sunak's Conservatives.
English Channel migrants will not be sent to Rwanda before the election but everything is in place "so that flights can go in July", Mr Sunak said.
"If I’m re-elected as Prime Minister, I’m going to get those flights off," he told broadcasters in a round of campaign interviews.
The Labour opposition describes the Rwanda plan as an "expensive gimmick", instead promising a new crackdown on smugglers and agreements with France and Europe.
"Rishi Sunak clearly does not believe in his Rwanda plan," Labour leader Keir Starmer said on his first campaign stop on Thursday.
"I don’t think he’s ever believed that plan is going to work, and so he has called an election early enough to have it not tested before the election."
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the figures for legal migration show "total Tory chaos and failure on immigration" despite promises to bring numbers down.
The provisional 685,000 figure is down from a record 764,000 in 2022 but still high by historical standards and was described as "appalling" by Reform Party right-wing figurehead Nigel Farage.
Home Secretary James Cleverly countered that the drop showed "the plan under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives is working".
Mr Sunak meanwhile leapt on the Rwanda dividing line with Labour to tell voters "if you care about that issue, I’m the one that’s going to deliver on it for you".
"I’m going to get that deterrent going and that’s how we’re going to stop the boats. Keir Starmer is not going to do that."
A drive to "stop the boats" was one of five key pledges that Mr Sunak asked voters last year to judge his premiership on but the Rwanda scheme has been bogged down by court battles.
Tory ministers have also tried to bring down legal migration by tightening visa rules for students and their families.
Visa applications have fallen and there are signs of higher emigration by non-EU nationals, but it is "too early to say" if net migration is on a downward trend, said the Office for National Statistics.
The number of illegal Channel crossings fell last year but Mr Sunak conceded they have risen again after a surge in arrivals from Vietnam.
Mr Sunak said officials have "put the preparations in place" for Rwanda flights by booking planes and airfields, hiring case workers and detaining people ready for deportation.
One migrant voluntarily left the UK for Rwanda under the scheme last month, in what ministers hailed as a partial win.
The prime minister touted that several European countries are looking into similar models to Britain's Rwanda scheme.
The emphasis in the EU has generally been on processing claims in third countries rather than permanent deportations there.
Mr Sunak says there is "no way to stop this problem" unless it is "clear that if someone comes to our country illegally they won’t be able to stay and they will be removed".
Labour recently set out an immigration policy that includes more intelligence sharing with Europe and agreements to return people to France.
It is pledging to hire more staff and create a new returns unit to "clear the Tory asylum backlog" and save money on hotels where migrants are housed.
Former prosecutor Mr Starmer would also appoint a former police, military or intelligence chief as head of a new border security command, Labour says.
Migrants attempt to cross the Channel from France - in pictures
It says the command would "use counter-terror style tactics" to take on the human-trafficking gangs behind the Channel crossings.
The Rwanda plan is "an extortionately expensive gimmick rather than a serious plan to tackle dangerous boat crossings", the party says.
Parliament passed a bill last month declaring Rwanda a safe country, moving to override objections by the UK's Supreme Court.
The current parliament – elected in 2019 with a near-landslide Conservative majority – will be formally dissolved on Thursday.
Voters will go to the polls on July 4 with any new government normally taking office immediately, unless there is a need for coalition talks.
UK general election campaigning - in pictures
MATCH INFO
Chelsea 4 (Mount 18',Werner 44', Hudson-Odoi 49', Havertz 85')
Morecambe 0
Quick%20facts
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
World%20Cup%202023%20ticket%20sales
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Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners
Cryptocurrency Investing for Dummies – by Kiana Danial
There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine.
Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.
Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.
Begin your cryptocurrency journey here.
Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill
Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.
MATCH INFO
Championship play-offs, second legs:
Aston Villa 0
Middlesbrough 0
(Aston Villa advance 1-0 on aggregate)
Fulham 2
Sessegnon (47'), Odoi (66')
Derby County 0
(Fulham advance 2-1 on aggregate)
Final
Saturday, May 26, Wembley. Kick off 8pm (UAE)
MATCH INFO
Jersey 147 (20 overs)
UAE 112 (19.2 overs)
Jersey win by 35 runs
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
