SABOTAGE!

Home Secretary says Sir Keir's 'web of cronies' are blocking asylum laws | But Labour insists it can clear a '13-year Tory backlog' of deportations

- Jonathan Walker

SIR KEIR Starmer was last night accused of trying to "sabotage" plans to stop the small boat migration crisis.

In an extraordinary attack, Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed the Labour leader used a "web of cronies" to block efforts to end the crossings. She hit out as it was revealed a lawyer advising Sir Keir on the party's general election manifesto is also a leading figure in a pressure group fighting the Rwanda scheme.

But last night Labour launched an attack of its own, accusing the Government of being too slow to deport failed asylum seekers.

The war of words broke out as Rishi Sunak prepared to launch a blitz of measures targeting the criminal gangs luring migrants to make dangerous Channel crossings.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper attempted to outflank the Tories by claiming they had "totally lost any grip on the asylum system" and pledged to speed up deportations if Labour comes to power. But furious Conservatives accused Sir Keir of using the immigration issue for "political point scoring", and highlighted connections between Labour and pressure groups attempting to block the Rwanda policy in the courts.

They pointed to lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, who is helping Sir Keir draw up his party's election manifesto. She belongs to Labour's Race Equality Taskforce, whose members also include Labour chairwoman and shadow Cabinet member Anneliese Dodds.