On his first day as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has terminated the controversial Rwanda deportation plan.

Labour insiders confirmed to The Telegraph that the Conservative initiative to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda is now effectively “dead,” following Labour's election pledge to scrap the scheme.

Addressing the issue of illegal migration is a top priority for the new Government, especially with a surge in small boat crossings expected over the summer.

French President Emmanuel Macron, a crucial figure in Labour’s strategy to manage this challenge, was reportedly the first world leader to call Sir Keir, speaking with him on Thursday night.

Newly appointed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of border security, stating that her initial focus would be on establishing a new Border Security Command. This move is intended to strengthen the UK's border management.

Immigration was a central issue during the election campaign. The Reform Party saw a surge in support due to its focus on this topic, although this did not translate into significant parliamentary representation, securing only five seats.

The Rwanda scheme, originally introduced by Boris Johnson and sustained by Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, faced numerous legal challenges and no deportation flights ever took off. It remained a contentious issue throughout the election.

A Labour insider highlighted that the plan’s termination was inevitable, remarking: “If Rishi Sunak believed the Rwanda plan would succeed, he wouldn’t have called an election. It was a charade. By calling an election, Sunak admitted as much.”

The UK can end the Rwanda scheme by invoking a break clause in the agreement, which stops any further payments from the activation date.

So far, the UK has spent £270 million on the scheme, including a recent £50 million instalment in April. By halting the plan, Britain will save an additional £100 million due in 2025 and 2026.