Labour has faced criticism over chaos in the Channel after the highest day of crossings so far this year, with two boats arriving undetected within 48 hours. Some 781 migrants made the dangerous journey from France to Britain yesterday, the highest number for a single day so far this year. Two vessels reached the UK's shores without being intercepted in the space of two days this week. Uncontrolled landings are so rare that there has only ever been one recorded previously.
Political Reactions
Cabinet minister Lucy Powell insisted that not every migrant boat can be intercepted. However, opposition parties have rounded on Labour and the party's pledge to "smash the gangs".
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Labour have admitted they will never stop the boats. Keir Starmer's pledge to 'smash the gangs' was always a farce, and open-borders Burnham has learnt absolutely nothing from his predecessor. The only way to stop the crossings is to deport all illegal immigrants on arrival, and only the Conservatives have a plan to do that."
Reform UK's Response
Reform UK's Zia Yusuf added: "It's abundantly clear that this Government will not stop the invasion of unvetted fighting-age males into our country. Instead, they are incentivising them with lavish police motorcades to their taxpayer-funded hotels, all while the British public struggles to afford to live in our own country. Labour's promise to smash the gangs is in complete tatters. Without withdrawing from the ECHR and deploying the Royal Navy, the boats will keep on coming, and Brits will continue being forced to foot the bill for these invaders."
Government Response
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command, said the failure to intercept the two boats was "not acceptable". She insisted that "even one" uncontrolled landing is "one too many".
Pressed on Good Morning Britain whether she stood by her statement that not every boat can be stopped, Ms Powell said: "I think you're just taking that completely out of context. We are clamping down on small boat crossings every single day… we are sucking the oxygen out of it, we are taking steps, and there are many, many steps. It's not an easy thing to do to just turn on a switch, turn off a switch overnight. We have to constantly evolve."
Readers can vote in the online poll on whether Labour has lost control of the country's borders.
