Starmer's people-smuggling summit won't change a thing

Another week, another announcement from the government on a new initiative to tackle “illegal migration”.

- MAY BULMAN

This time, Labour proudly announced it was hosting a “major international summit” yesterday, with dozens of countries – including the US, Vietnam, Iraq and France – attending, to apparently “unite behind a new approach to dismantling peoplesmuggling gangs”.

It certainly sounds decisive and new. Hosting more than 40 governments from around the world, as well as representatives from Meta, X (Twitter) and TikTok, to discuss how to tackle irregular migration is something no previous UK government has come up with. By hosting it in the grandiose Lancaster House, with its high ceilings, gold wall carvings and splendid chandeliers, Labour is clearly seeking to generate a feeling of magnitude around the summit and its attendees.

But in reality, when you look through the expansive guest list and the opulence surrounding the event, there is little substance and hardly anything new in terms of approach.