Prime Minister Andy Burnham is on holiday while Britain faces a migrant crisis, with more than 2,000 illegal arrivals in his first two weeks in office. Government figures show the one-in, one-out scheme with France has resulted in the UK accepting 30 more migrants than it has returned.
One-in, One-out Scheme Fails to Deliver
Data from August 4, 2025, to June 30, 2026, reveals 1,087 people were returned to France, while 1,117 were transferred to the UK. This means the UK has accepted 30 more migrants than it has sent back, despite the policy's aim of balancing numbers.
Reform UK Shadow Home Secretary Zia Yusuf criticized the figures, stating: "These numbers are pathetic. We’ve taken in 30 more migrants than we’ve sent to France under this scheme. Meanwhile 2,000 illegal migrants have arrived on our shores in Burnham’s first two weeks, and more than 200,000 have been welcomed in by Tory and Labour governments since 2018."
Reform UK Demands Stronger Action
Yusuf added: "Instead of continuing to send France billions of pounds of taxpayer cash, we must eliminate the pull factors by starting a programme of mass deportations and deploying the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats in the Channel. Anything less is a complete capitulation."
The comments come as Burnham retained Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary, signaling no reversal of the policy. Critics argue the scheme is inadequate, while Reform UK positions itself as the only party serious about addressing the crisis.
Political Blame Game
The article blames both Labour and Tory governments for the situation, stating only Reform UK has a credible plan. It suggests that Reform's proposals would align the UK with countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, which have stricter immigration controls.
It also argues that France is a safe country, so there is no need for asylum claims, and calls for the removal of migrants. The piece concludes that Burnham's holiday is a sign of indifference, as the nation faces the consequences of the crisis.
