GB News issued a breaking news alert on Wednesday, July 22, as Home and Security Editor Mark White reported that 100 illegal immigrants had arrived in the UK that day. This came just two days after Andy Burnham succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
Breaking Banner Targets New PM
In a dig at the new PM, a breaking banner rolled across the screen that read "Burnham's Boats." White reported on the spike of migrants coming to the UK, which is sure to be a blow to the new PM. He conceded that the numbers of migrants crossing the Channel had been down in recent weeks due to high winds and possible disruption of people smugglers, but he predicted that numbers seem to be on the rise again.
Exclusive Images of Arrivals
White said: "Look at the images now on your screen, exclusive pictures of the Border Security Command vessel Courageous coming into Dover Harbour just a short while ago with the first arrivals at daylight today. We had more arrivals that came on the Border Force vessel Volunteer about 2.30 this morning."
He added: "So far today, just under 100 illegal immigrants have arrived in the UK, but we're told more small boats are out there in the channel and there have been 12 days and this has been due to the weather."
Weather Impact and Prediction
White explained: "We've had lots of wind in the channel for the last almost a fortnight now, so we haven't had small boats crossing the English Channel, but it was always inevitable that we would be getting more crossing. And there they are, look at the alliteration on the screen, Burnham's boats. If number 10 don't like that, we can change it to Andy's Armada."
Response to 'Smash the Gangs' Promise
White addressed the claim in last week's last PMQs that the Smash the Gangs promise was working, saying: "We've not gone quite that far, but what we are seeing is that there has been some kind of an impact, however, as I've said before, the people smugglers will adapt and overcome. Let's see when we get to the end of the year what the figures are like."
He continued: "Just because the numbers have gone down here, maybe temporarily, does not actually mean that anyone has solved the problem, perhaps it's just been displaced."
Danger of Small Boats
White added: "But when you put 100 or two migrants on board, they are really, really dangerous. And we've seen quite a significant loss of life. But having said that, also significant numbers crossing into these southern European countries. More pressure on the home sector, if you've ever made."
