Keir Starmer vows to 'treat people smugglers like terrorists'
Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has condemned Labour’s failure to stop small boat crossings as a “national crisis”, as the Prime Minister hosts a summit in London to crack down on people smugglers. Leaders from 40 countries are attending the PM’s conference at Lancaster House in central London today and tomorrow, as they attempt to grapple with the international problem.
Sir Keir told attendees: "There has never been a bigger gathering of people on this issue, building a truly international effort to defeat organised immigration crime." However Reform UK’s chief whip condemned the Prime Minister, and confirmed his party’s policy to deport anyone living in Britain illegally. He fumed: “Labour's failure to control illegal migration is not just an issue of border security—it is a national crisis.”
READ MORE: Migrant summit LIVE: Keir Starmer makes migration announcement
Lee Anderson tore into Labour's lack of action (Image: PA)
“As the numbers show, we are not receiving the best and brightest in terms of illegal migrants.
“No country has benefited from this level of unbridled immigration. It has placed a massive strain on our public services, our safety, and the pockets of our hardworking taxpayers.
“Reform UK will freeze all non-essential immigration, deport foreign criminals, and deport anyone who has illegally entered the country.”
This morning Sir Keir claimed that his government has deported 24,000 migrants since coming to office last July.
However, the vast majority of these were voluntary removals, rather than enforced.
Amid mounting concern over the Government’s plan to end the Channel crisis, the Prime Minister said he was introducing “tough” measures to deter crossings.
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Starmer is hosting a summit of over 40 world leaders (Image: PA)
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He pointed to a 21% increase in enforced returns and a 16% increase in foreign national offenders being removed from the UK since July 5.
However Reform has pointed out that over 30,000 small boat crossings have taken place during the same period, with more than 5,000 in the last three months alone.
This is a record high number of crossings during this time frame.
The cost of housing asylum seekers in 400 hotels up and down the country is now running at £14 billion a year, with £3,000 a day being spent on new clothes and shoes.
Nigel Farage added: “[Starmer] promised to smash the gangs, but he’s smashing Rishi Sunak’s record instead.”
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Sir Keir said: “Immigration crime funds the vile people-smuggling gangs that trade in human misery, breach our borders and threaten Britain’s economic security.
“This government is taking back control, doing the hard graft needed to deliver results, working with our international allies to smash these gangs and secure our borders.
“We’ve already removed more than 24,000 people with no right to be here and we’re finally shutting down exploitative illegal working, dismantling criminal networks, while forcing people-smuggling gangs out of business.
“For too long, the UK was a soft touch. That ends now. No more gimmicks, no empty promises, just serious action for British security.”
