Before becoming Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer campaigned alongside MPs to keep foreign criminals in the UK who then went on to reoffend.
The 2020 letter has resurfaced following the publication of Labour's immigration white paper, which includes a raft of plans to address Britain's border crisis.
Under the new measures, which the Government insists will “tighten up every area of the immigration system”, the Home Office will be informed of all foreign nationals convicted of offences, not just those who go to prison.
The proposed change seeks to close a legal gap that has allowed some migrants to avoid deportation even after committing serious offences like knife attacks, theft, property destruction, and violence against women.
Keir Starmer signed a letter demanding to keep foreign criminals in UK before unveiling deportation plan
Labour/X
Answering questions following the announcement, one reporter put the following to Starmer: "Five years ago, you signed a letter objecting to the deportation of foreign criminals. Your views have changed, haven’t they?"
Starmer rejected the accusation that he has U-turned, adding that as DPP he was in favour of foreign criminals being deported.
He did not address the point raised by the letter he signed in 2020, which called for 50 dangerous offenders not to be deported on a flight to Jamaica (see image above).
During his leadership bid, he demanded alongside dozens of MPs and celebrities that “all future charter flights must be suspended” and suggested the convicts were given taxpayer-funded mobile phones in a bid to help them to stay in Britain.
The deportation flight of 50 people was cancelled after the Court of Appeal found they had insufficient access to legal advice due to a lack of working mobile sim cards while they were kept in immigration detention.
Following the intervention, seven of the criminals went on to commit more violent or drug-related crimes.
They included Killer Ernesto Elliott, who later murdered a man in a knife fight in June 2021. He was jailed for 26 years after being found guilty of murder and robbery along with his son Nico Elliott.
Those who were allowed to stay also included heroin dealer Akiva Heaven, who had served four years in jail before being released in 2018. In May 2021, just over a year after his delayed deportation flight, he was jailed again for dealing cocaine and heroin in Southsea, Hants.
Other signatories to the letter included supermodel Naomi Campbell, Line of Duty actress Thandiwe Newton and soul singer Beverley Knight.
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Starmer rejected this accusation that he has U-turned, adding that as DPP he was in favour of foreign criminals being deported
KEIR STARMERCampaigners pointed to the lack of legal support for those who were to be deported, and the fact that they had lived in the UK for most of their lives.
A spokesman for the Party at the time claimed the letter signed by Starmer made no difference when “the Tories have left the department responsible for our national security unable to deal with violent and serious criminals”.
“It’s the Government’s failure to sort out their own legal systems or put someone on another flight that is responsible for these crimes, not some letter," they told The Sun.
The proposed changes under the new measures also include English tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependents, as well as a longer route to settled status.
Following the announcement on Monday, Kemi Badenoch accused Labour of not believing in "secure borders" as she took a swipe at the Prime Minister's announcement.
The Conservative leader wrote on social media: "Keir Starmer once called all immigration laws racist. So why would anyone believe he actually wants to bring immigration down?
"When I proposed ending the automatic route to British citizenship and introducing a legally binding cap, the government laughed it off.
"Now, nine months into office and after voting against every serious attempt we’ve put forward to cut numbers, Starmer suddenly wants you to think he cares. Labour doesn’t believe in secure borders. You can’t trust them to protect ours."
GB News has approached the Home Office for comment.
