Nigel Farage launched a furious attack on Andy Burnham after the first small boat migrants crossed the Channel since he became PM. The Reform UK leader accused the Prime Minister of not having a plan to tackle the crisis.
He told GB News: "I haven't heard Mr Burnham talk once, either in the Makerfield campaign or now, about what he's going to do to stop dangerous young men entering our country, and I suspect the answer is nothing."
Farage challenges Burnham's language
Challenged that he mentioned "HMO Britain" in his Makerfield by-election victory speech in reference to houses of multiple occupancy, Mr Farage added: "He's trying to use our language, but what solution is he offering? Under him, the HMOs will go up, not down."
Pressed that this is because migrants are being moved out of hotels, Mr Farage went on: "Well, fine. But arguably, HMOs are worse because they're in a street near you. They're literally being put in the middle of residential areas."
Crime concerns
"And that's not to even start on crime, there's not a week that goes by we don't hear of a very serious court case of somebody who's entered illegally, who's committed murder, rape, you name it," he said.
On small boat crossings being down this year compared to the year before, Mr Farage said: "Whether two terrorists come in or one terrorist comes in, I would suggest to you the situation isn't getting better.
"If I'd said to you six years ago, 'only 25,000 young men in the first nine months of this year', you'd have said 'what are you talking about?' The whole thing is unimaginable."
Crossing figures
Some 12,469 small boat migrants have made the dangerous journey in rubber dinghies so far this year, according to Home Office figures. This is 47% lower than the number recorded by this time last year and down 21% on the same period in 2024.
It comes as Mr Burnham, who entered 10 Downing Street on Monday, is focusing on easing the cost of living with a series of announcements this week, including removing VAT from electricity bills, reinstating the £2 bus fare cap and slashing VAT for pubs.
