Keir Starmer is not a man for dividing lines. Whether on public spending, relations with Europe or benefits claimants, the Labour leader has sought to ensure that the gap between the opposition and government remains as narrow as possible, lest he alienate floating voters. So it is notable that he has chosen to make the Rwanda migrant scheme an exception.
At a speech this morning in Kent, Starmer said a Labour government would scrap the plan to send failed asylum seekers to Kigali, which he labelled "a gimmick, not a solution". That he did so while standing next to Natalie Elphicke is god tier chutzpah, but never mind. Instead, he said the party would use the money to set up an "elite" Border Security Command task force to target people smugglers and prevent small boat crossings.
