GB News was interrupted by a breaking announcement on Monday morning, delivering a fresh blow to Andy Burnham. Presenters Mark White and Ellie Costello revealed that nearly 1,000 migrants crossed the English Channel over the weekend.
Speaking on the August 10 programme, White said: "News for you on the small boat situation. An update in the figures coming from our producer down in Kent that tells us now 950, around that figure is the total number of illegal immigrants who crossed the English Channel over this past weekend."
Depth of the crisis
He added: "Just shy of 1,000 crossing in a single weekend. That tells you all you need to know about the depth of this crisis. The government likes to tell us the numbers are down, which they are compared to last year, but it only takes a couple of good days and you can see the figures shooting up again."
The announcement comes amid reports that Care4Calais, a left-wing organisation supporting migrants, has been orchestrating a campaign to demand "safe routes now" for those intending to cross the Channel.
Charity's efforts
The charity has reportedly distributed more than 162,000 items to migrants entering the UK, including 2,000 complimentary SIM cards with six-month data pre-loaded. Its annual report outlines how volunteers have personally delivered 162,000 items in the UK and France, distributing a total of 2,221 Vodafone SIM cards, 3,765 hoodies, 3,532 pairs of joggers and 1,174 t-shirts to ensure migrants are clothed and able to make calls and send texts.
Comparison with Spain
Meanwhile, when 60,000 migrants from Morocco crossed the border of the Spanish enclave Ceuta at the beginning of the month, it was reported that Spain had denied the migrants food and water in an effort to get them to leave. Comparing Spain's handling of the crisis with that of the UK, GB News presenter Dawn Neesom said: "Can you imagine if we did that in this country rather than give them a hotel?"
Taking aim at the Labour government, White highlighted that migrants were being "pushed back over the border without any regard to them claiming asylum".
Political implications
Labour's Immigration and Asylum Bill will make it harder for foreign criminals and rejected asylum seekers to use human rights laws to block their removal. However, union barons working with Care4Calais are attempting to force Burnham to water down the plans.
Addressing the proposal for so-called safe and legal routes and refugee sponsorship for migrants during a debate in parliament, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp warned: "The numbers that we are talking about would be in addition to the number of asylum claims that we are already processing."
He said: "Last year saw the highest number of asylum claims in history. From memory, it was somewhere in the region of 109,000. This year, the number will only be a little lower. Adding to that when we already have record numbers of asylum claims strikes me as irresponsible."
Philp also noted that supporters of the schemes claim migrants would not be a burden on the taxpayer because their sponsor would look after them, but he said: "She neglected to mention that that support has to last only for the first year. Thereafter, the taxpayer would have to pick up the tab. I must say that I do not support the creation of these schemes until we have illegal immigration and asylum claims down essentially to zero."
