Sir Keir Starmer tagging shame betrays human rights
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s shameful support of tagging refugees fleeing from war and persecution is both inhumane and a betrayal of his past work as a human rights lawyer, say the Scottish Greens.
The former QC, Labour’s fifth party leader since Tony Blair first introduced tagging of asylum seekers in 2004, said in an interview with the Radio 4 Today programme “I think there’s a case for tagging in particular cases”.
His admission comes as the Conservative government at Westminster looks to expand their use as part of a panicked package attempting to reduce the number of asylum applications.
Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson Ross Greer said it was proof of how “craven” Starmer and Labour had become in seeking power at any cost. He said: “What exactly is the point of a Labour party which behaves like a tribute to the Tories rather than a genuine opposition?
“First, they abandoned the working class, refused to stand with trade unions, washed their hands of Europe and now they’re back to victimising asylum seekers.
“Tagging people fleeing the devastation of war or famine, who are escaping from rape or persecution, is state-sponsored psychological torture. It treats vulnerable people who have done nothing wrong or illegal like they are criminals.
“Keir Starmer is proposing the dehumanisation of individuals, stripping them of their dignity, and deliberately degrading their spirit in a blatant attempt to force them to leave. It is shameful and a betrayal of human rights.
“Where is the feted human rights lawyer who once made his living supporting those without a voice? The Labour party under Keir Starmer doesn’t have a shred of principle, socialist or otherwise. It will say and do anything to get into power.
“Starmer and all those in his inner circle, should hang their heads in shame. Many of us desperately want rid of this cruel and vindictive Tory government and their racist Home Office, but all Labour are offering refugees is more of the same cruelty.
Mr Greer also criticised Sir Keir for claiming there was “no case for going back to the EU or going back into the single market” and for ludicrously claiming that rejoining the Single Market wouldn’t help the struggling UK economy.
He said:
“It’s a shame that former EU supporter Sir Keir Starmer now opposes rejoining the European community, even now that we are seeing the economic disaster of Brexit really unfold.
"To claim that rejoining the European Single Market wouldn’t help our economy is far worse though. It's an outright lie and Starmer knows it. How can anyone trust a word out of the mouth of a man who has systematically rejected everything he stood for until just two years ago?
“Vote Tory, vote Labour, it really makes little difference anymore. The only way for Scotland to escape this racist, inhumane, and anti-European Westminster circus is to put our own future in our own hands. Independence cannot come soon enough."