LONDON (NEWSnet/AP) — United Kingdom Prime Minister Keri Starmer said Saturday he is scrapping a controversial Conservative policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

“The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started,” Starmer said in his first news conference. “It’s never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite.”

The program was beset with challenges over human rights issues and never managed to deport a single person, despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars in a pact with the east Africa nation.

Starmer made the announcement after holding his first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing St., the day after his Labour Party’s landslide victory overturned 14 years of Conservative rule.

Starmer welcomed the new ministers, saying it had been the honor of his life to be asked by King Charles III to form a government, in a ceremony that officially elevated him to prime minister.

“We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work,” he said.

Among problems they face are boosting a sluggish economy, fixing a broken health care system, and restoring trust in government.

Starmer said he will get to work immediately, but added it will require some time to show results.

“Changing a country is not like flicking a switch,” he said as enthusiastic supporters cheered him outside his new official residence at 10 Downing. “This will take a while. But have no doubt that the work of change begins — immediately.”

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