Labour Candidate Faces Backlash

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, is facing accusations of hypocrisy after it was revealed that one of his party's election candidates organizes holidays for children in Rwanda. The controversy arises as Labour opposes the government's plan to deport migrants to the African country.

African Dreams Founder Running for Office

Sam Rushworth, a candidate for the Labour Party in the target seat of Bishop Auckland, is the founder of African Dreams, a company that specializes in sending children as young as 13 to Rwanda for holidays. Bishop Auckland is currently held by the Conservatives and is considered a crucial seat in the so-called Red Wall.

Labour's Response

Labour has dismissed the Tory attack on Rushworth as "desperate stuff" and defended the company's offering, stating that Rwanda provides a safe and supportive environment for young people. African Dreams offers various holiday packages, including a top-of-the-range option worth £1,999 per person for a ten-day stay in the country, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Conflict with Labour's Stance

However, the company's holiday offerings appear to contradict Labour's opposition to the government's deportation policy, which the party has described as "deeply unethical." Sir Keir Starmer himself has vowed to scrap the plan if he becomes Prime Minister, but has suggested exploring off-shore processing of asylum claims.

Questionable Statements and Tory Response

Rushworth, the Labour candidate, has made statements indicating his affinity for Rwanda, including expressing a desire for dual citizenship and suggesting that Brits should visit the country "to escape the UK winter." Tory party chair Richard Holden has criticized the Labour candidate's actions as sheer hypocrisy and called on the government to focus on tackling gangs involved in channel crossings rather than wasting money on the Rwanda plan.

Government's Response

The government's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda faced a potential rebellion, but the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, managed to see off the challenge. The Supreme Court had previously ruled the scheme unlawful. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has indicated that the government is open to amendments to the legislation during the upcoming parliamentary stages.

The controversy surrounding the Labour candidate's involvement in organizing holidays to Rwanda has put Sir Keir Starmer in a difficult position. As the leader of the party, he faces accusations of hypocrisy for supporting a candidate whose actions contradict Labour's stance on the government's deportation policy. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the upcoming election in Bishop Auckland.