On 10 May 2024, Keir Starmer announced in Dover that a Labour government would scrap the Conservatives’ Rwanda deportation scheme and replace it with a new Border Security Command. Joined by local MP Natalie Elphicke, who had just defected from the Conservatives to Labour, Starmer criticised the Rwanda plan as “gesture politics”—a costly and ineffective stunt that failed to deter illegal immigration. He pledged to redirect the £75 million allocated to the scheme into a specialised unit focused on intelligence-led enforcement and tackling people-smuggling gangs. Starmer argued that the public was tired of political gimmicks and wanted practical, serious solutions. His speech marked a shift in Labour’s immigration policy, prioritising effective border control over symbolic measures. Elphicke’s defection underscored growing discontent within the Conservative ranks and added political weight to Labour’s stance. The announcement positioned Labour as focused on enforcement and results, rather than headline-grabbing but unworkable policies.