Starmer attacked from left and right after setting out plan to stop Channel crossings

Labour leader accused of pandering to anti-migrant sentiments by those on the left while Tories seize on proposal for deal with EU

Keir Starmer was under attack from left and right on Thursday after he set out plans to stop small boat Channel crossings in Labour's first big intervention on the issue.

Fleshing out his party's proposals, the Labour leader promised to ditch the use of barges, hotels and military sites to house asylum seekers. He also promised to recruit 1,000 caseworkers to end the asylum backlog.