Latest news with #illegalmigrants
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer can dress up the migrant figures, but he's betrayed the British people: ALP MEHMET
When Sir Keir Starmer entered Downing Street last July, he vowed to 'smash the gangs' behind the barbaric trade in human cargo across the English Channel. So far, all he has smashed are the records for the number of illegal migrants making the journey to Britain. On Saturday alone, some 1,200 migrants arrived in small boats – the highest daily total so far this year. A staggering figure. But even more staggering is the Prime Minister's brazen attempt to pull the wool over the public's eyes. 'You have every right to be angry about small-boat crossings. I'm angry, too,' Starmer wrote on X this week, in an all-too-familiar display of hand-wringing and hollow empathy. In the same breath, he boasted that 'almost 30,000 people' had been removed from the UK – a statement clearly designed to mislead. Because, contrary to the impression given, that figure does not refer solely to small-boat migrants. In fact, it includes foreign nationals with no permission to be here – for example, students who've overstayed visas, failed asylum seekers from years ago and foreign offenders. Many will very likely have volunteered. The truth is that on Starmer's watch, the number of small-boat migrants removed in the 12 months to March fell 3 per cent year-on-year to 2,240. None of them was from countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan or Somalia. It wouldn't be the first time the Prime Minister has spun the facts in such a misleading fashion to hide the truth about Labour's abysmal record on immigration. Just last month, after new net migration figures showed a 50 per cent fall compared with 2023, the Home Office shared a flashy graphic on X that said: 'Net migration cut by nearly 50 per cent – the largest-ever drop in any 12-month period.' Sir Keir gleefully doubled down on the claim, stating that 'we have nearly halved net migration in the last year. We're taking back control'. In reality, this dramatic drop was almost entirely the result of visa-tightening measures brought in by the previous Conservative government – which Labour, in opposition, dismissed as 'chaotic' and a 'Tory failure'. Now they're shamelessly taking credit. Let's be clear: Labour only took office in the latter half of 2024. Starmer cannot take ownership of improvements made before he even stepped into No 10. What he can be judged on are the figures for 2025. And they make for grim reading. So far this year, more than 14,700 migrants have made the illegal, perilous crossing. At this rate, the total will likely surpass 50,000 by the end of 2025, bringing the number who've crossed since 2018 – when illegal boat crossings first began – to around 200,000. That's the equivalent of the population of Luton arriving in dinghies. And that's just those we know about. Those figures are a monument to the failure of Europe's elite to take these problems seriously. Politicians on both sides of the Channel have refused to get tough. While in Britain Labour and activist lawyers hide behind legalistic concerns about human rights and outdated treaties – intended to deal with different circumstances to justify doing nothing – Paris shrugs its shoulders with Gallic indifference while Brussels bangs on the EU drum. Disgraceful pictures emerged over the weekend showing French gendarmes standing by while dinghies full of migrants were loaded up by, we assume, the traffickers. A crime taking place directly in front of them, yet they still refused to act. What makes their failure to enforce the law all the more disgraceful is the huge sums of taxpayers' money that the French are accepting from Britain to patrol their coastline. Since 2010, we have either handed or pledged close to £600million (around €1billion) to our neighbours to help stem the tide. Instead, we have seen numbers rise. Why would the French intervene, when they're more than happy to wave these migrants through – many of whom have already had their asylum claims rejected in France? We have a right to feel cheated by France. But Starmer's Government's own strategy has been woeful. Having spent the last month cosying up to Brussels in a bid to 'reset' the UK's relationship with the EU, Starmer is too timid to ruffle French feathers or demand results for the huge sums we have handed over. He has failed to provide any means of deterrence to the illegal migrants, having abandoned the Tories' Rwanda scheme and miserably failed to set up any alternative. His half-hearted attempts to revive it – including a charm offensive aimed at persuading Albanian prime minister Edi Rama to host 'Rwanda mark two' holding hubs – ended in embarrassment. Starmer can try to dress the figures up as much as he likes – but no amount of clever wording will change the truth: he has betrayed the trust of British people.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK is ‘El Dorado' for migrants who get hotels and handouts, French MP slams as 1,100 cross Channel in just 1 day
BENEFITS for illegal migrants were slammed again today after a leading French MP said Britain was like 'El Dorado' for Channel crossers. Anger over relentless small boat arrivals has intensified after almost 1,200 made the journey in a single day on Saturday. 2 2 The mega rate of dinghies - up 40 per cent on last year - has also raised criticism of French cops' failure to intercept them despite being given £480million of UK taxpayer cash. But today a senior member of Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party blamed the British government for making life 'so attractive' for potential migrants. Channel arrivals who claim asylum are given accommodation and food while their bids are being processed, with those unable to be deported given support indefinitely. Asked on the BBC if Britain was like 'El Dorado' - the mythical city of gold - Élénore Caroit told the BBC: 'It is. It's a complex situation, people want simple solutions, but you have to go to Calais and see what it looks like, and how many boats you have and how many people are waiting to go to the UK. 'So, of course, there is a part that can be improved in France, and we're working towards that. But I also think the UK needs to take responsibility, because it is so attractive to these migrant routes as of today, and we actually need to work together instead of blaming each other.' Sir Keir Starmer today insisted the government had ramped up the number of deportations and illegal working raids. He said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' It promoted a furious response from MP Rupert Lowe, who hit back: 'Don't put them up in hotels. Don't give them benefits. Don't let them stay - under any circumstances.' Police stood and watched as the gangs took advantage of calm seas on Saturday to launch 18 boats for the use of mostly young men. A total of 1,194 people made the crossing successfully, the highest number in a day since 2022. Officials said only 184 were stopped — fewer than 15 per cent. Photos of smiling migrants in the boats crossing the Channel emerged later on social media. It comes despite a deal agreed in 2023 to pay the French £480million to stop the crossings. Defence Secretary John Healey described the weekend scenes from the French beaches as 'shocking'. He said: 'Truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years.' He said the smugglers were dodging waiting cops by 'launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi'. Mr Healey said it was a 'really big problem' that, under French law, the police were not allowed to intervene once boats were in shallow waters. Watershed Day - The Sun Says THE arrival of 1,194 illegal migrants across the Channel on Saturday is a total humiliation for the politicians who have failed to keep us safe. It made a mockery of Keir Starmer's pledge last summer to 'smash the gangs' — and his much-trumpeted new £150million Border Security Command was quickly overwhelmed. And in an ironic reversal of our nation's Dunkirk spirit, local fishing boats were asked to help out. Meanwhile, the French cops — handed £480million by Britain — again stood watching uselessly as boatloads of mainly young men set sail unimpeded. The Government says things will change now it has persuaded France to implement new rules later this year to allow police to go out into the sea. Some hope, when French naval vessels have spent years merely escorting dinghies into British waters. The numbers of migrants stopped by France have fallen as our cheque paid to them has got bigger. The French blame us for offering benefits and free hotels and say the UK is an El Dorado paradise for illegals. It's hard to argue. Nothing will substantially shift the dial until a proper deterrent is found. Rwanda might have been it. The PM scrapped it. This should be a watershed moment. Depressingly, the problem this summer is only likely to get worse.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Humiliating arrival of 1,194 illegal migrants in a single day must be a watershed moment in immigration crisis
Watershed day THE arrival of 1,194 illegal migrants across the Channel on Saturday is a total humiliation for the politicians who have failed to keep us safe. It made a mockery of Keir Starmer's pledge last summer to 'smash the gangs' — and his much-trumpeted new £150million Border Security Command was quickly overwhelmed. And in an ironic reversal of our nation's Dunkirk spirit, local fishing boats were asked to help out. Meanwhile, the French cops — handed £480million by Britain — again stood watching uselessly as boatloads of mainly young men set sail unimpeded. The Government says things will change now it has persuaded France to implement new rules later this year to allow police to go out into the sea. Some hope, when French naval vessels have spent years merely escorting dinghies into British waters. The numbers of migrants stopped by France have fallen as our cheque paid to them has got bigger. The French blame us for offering benefits and free hotels and say the UK is an El Dorado paradise for illegals. It's hard to argue. Nothing will substantially shift the dial until a proper deterrent is found. Rwanda might have been it. The PM scrapped it. This should be a watershed moment. Depressingly, the problem this summer is only likely to get worse. Scores of migrants board overloaded dinghies to make dangerous Channel crossing to UK - as French cops watch on Vital war chest AFTER years of Whitehall deciding that defending the nation didn't matter, the Government is right to now increase spending as part of today's Strategic Defence Review. Given massive global uncertainty, the UK should be on a war footing. Yet there are concerns that the review doesn't go far enough. There is still doubt over whether or when Labour will spend three per cent of GDP on defence. Planned submarines and weapons factories are also still decades away. Then there's Britain's appalling record on procurement which has wasted billions on dud kit. There is still a great deal more for this Government to do. Inns and outs FOR a trade already on the brink, Rachel Reeves's jobs tax Budget threatened to hammer pubs and restaurants. So it has proved, as her National Insurance rises are now being blamed for a third of locals making daily losses. The entire hospitality industry is now under grave threat — as are small businesses on our high streets.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
UK to use drones to tackle migrants in Western Balkans
New drone patrols in the Western Balkans will be paid for by the UK in a desperate bid to slash the number of illegal migrants making it to the English Channel. Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Albania last night before talks today on building co-operation aimed at closing down one of the main routes for migrants trying to enter Europe illegally. He is also expected to discuss Albania's part in a radical scheme designed to 'offshore' the processing of thousands of migrants landing in Italy – an initiative some ministers believe could one day be copied by the UK. The Prime Minister is under pressure to step up action to tackle the Channel migrant crisis following a surge in arrivals since Labour came to power. Arrivals this year have topped 12,000 – a 40 per cent rise from 2024. More than 600 crossed on Monday as the PM was giving his speech vowing a crackdown on immigration. The leap in numbers threatens to make a mockery of Labour's plan to 'smash the gangs', with ministers now resorting to blaming the fine weather for the increase in illegal crossings. But Sir Keir will today insist that progress is being made in tackling the organised crime gangs trafficking migrants to the UK. He will say that working alongside Albania – much of which was started by the last Conservative government – is 'delivering security' in both countries. 'Our joint work to deter, detect and return illegal migrants is further proof that intervening upstream to protect British shores and secure our borders is the right approach,' he will say. 'Every step we take to tackle illegal migration overseas, cripple the criminal networks that facilitate it and stem the finance streams that fund it is delivering safer streets in the UK and reducing the strain on taxpayer-funded services.' The UK is already funding new drones to track migrants being trafficked through the mountainous border region with Kosovo, where vehicle access is difficult. Some are equipped with automatic registration plate recognition cameras – enabling them to spot any British vehicles thought to be linked to Albanian smuggling gangs. The PM will announce plans today to expand the scheme, including more intelligence sharing and new drone patrols on key routes through neighbouring Montenegro and North Macedonia. The Albanian authorities will also be supplied with new forgery detection machines to make it easier to recognise fake passports. The Western Balkans is a key passage for migrants trying to enter the EU. An estimated 100,000 people attempted the route last year, thousands of whom are thought to have crossed the Channel in a bid to get to the UK illegally. More than 12,000 migrants from Albania made their way across the Channel in small boats in 2022 – up from just 50 two years previously. Numbers are down by 95 per cent since Rishi Sunak signed a returns deal with Albania in 2023. Sir Keir will today announce new 'support' designed to help migrants deported from Albania find local jobs instead of trying to cross the Channel again. The Prime Minister will hold talks later with Albania's socialist leader Edi Rama, who won a record fourth term in office in elections last weekend on a platform of taking the former communist state into the EU. He is expected to discuss Albania's 'offshoring' deal with Italy, but sources played down the prospect of a breakthrough. Italy had hoped to process 36,000 Mediterranean migrants a year at camps built in Albania. But the deal signed last year has been mired in legal problems in the Albanian courts. Sir Keir expressed interest in the scheme after discussing it with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on a visit to Rome last year. Labour scrapped the last government's flagship Rwanda scheme within days of coming to office, despite warnings that efforts to tackle the Channel crisis would fail without a credible deterrent. Ministers have not ruled out schemes to 'offshore' the processing of Channel migrants abroad. But a source said the difficulties with the Albania-Italy deal underlined the fact it would not be 'straightforward'. Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp last night branded the Prime Minister's trip to Albania 'pure theatre' – and accused him of 'flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit' for previous Tory initiatives. He added: 'If Starmer is so serious about cracking down on illegal migration, he should never have scrapped the Rwanda deterrent before it even started. We have seen from Australia that offshore deterrents work. Yet under Labour, 2025 is already the worst year on record for Channel crossings, with over 12,000 crossings and rising.'
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Britain will pay for drone patrols in the Western Balkans in Keir Starmer's desperate bid to get a grip on stopping migrants reaching the English Channel
New drone patrols in the Western Balkans will be paid for by the UK in a desperate bid to slash the number of illegal migrants making it to the English Channel. Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Albania last night before talks today on building co-operation aimed at closing down one of the main routes for migrants trying to enter Europe illegally. He is also expected to discuss Albania's part in a radical scheme designed to 'offshore' the processing of thousands of migrants landing in Italy – an initiative some ministers believe could one day be copied by the UK. The Prime Minister is under pressure to step up action to tackle the Channel migrant crisis following a surge in arrivals since Labour came to power. Arrivals this year have topped 12,000 – a 40 per cent rise from 2024. More than 600 crossed on Monday as the PM was giving his speech vowing a crackdown on immigration. The leap in numbers threatens to make a mockery of Labour's plan to 'smash the gangs', with ministers now resorting to blaming the fine weather for the increase in illegal crossings. But Sir Keir will today insist that progress is being made in tackling the organised crime gangs trafficking migrants to the UK. He will say that working alongside Albania – much of which was started by the last Conservative government – is 'delivering security' in both countries. 'Our joint work to deter, detect and return illegal migrants is further proof that intervening upstream to protect British shores and secure our borders is the right approach,' he will say. 'Every step we take to tackle illegal migration overseas, cripple the criminal networks that facilitate it and stem the finance streams that fund it is delivering safer streets in the UK and reducing the strain on taxpayer-funded services.' The UK is already funding new drones to track migrants being trafficked through the mountainous border region with Kosovo, where vehicle access is difficult. Some are equipped with automatic registration plate recognition cameras – enabling them to spot any British vehicles thought to be linked to Albanian smuggling gangs. The PM will announce plans today to expand the scheme, including more intelligence sharing and new drone patrols on key routes through neighbouring Montenegro and North Macedonia. The Albanian authorities will also be supplied with new forgery detection machines to make it easier to recognise fake passports. The Western Balkans is a key passage for migrants trying to enter the EU. An estimated 100,000 people attempted the route last year, thousands of whom are thought to have crossed the Channel in a bid to get to the UK illegally. More than 12,000 migrants from Albania made their way across the Channel in small boats in 2022 – up from just 50 two years previously. Numbers are down by 95 per cent since Rishi Sunak signed a returns deal with Albania in 2023. Sir Keir will today announce new 'support' designed to help migrants deported from Albania find local jobs instead of trying to cross the Channel again. The Prime Minister will hold talks later with Albania's socialist leader Edi Rama, who won a record fourth term in office in elections last weekend on a platform of taking the former communist state into the EU. He is expected to discuss Albania's 'offshoring' deal with Italy, but sources played down the prospect of a breakthrough. Italy had hoped to process 36,000 Mediterranean migrants a year at camps built in Albania. But the deal signed last year has been mired in legal problems in the Albanian courts. Sir Keir expressed interest in the scheme after discussing it with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on a visit to Rome last year. Labour scrapped the last government's flagship Rwanda scheme within days of coming to office, despite warnings that efforts to tackle the Channel crisis would fail without a credible deterrent. Ministers have not ruled out schemes to 'offshore' the processing of Channel migrants abroad. But a source said the difficulties with the Albania-Italy deal underlined the fact it would not be 'straightforward'. Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp last night branded the Prime Minister's trip to Albania 'pure theatre' – and accused him of 'flying out for a handshake in Tirana to claim credit' for previous Tory initiatives. He added: 'If Starmer is so serious about cracking down on illegal migration, he should never have scrapped the Rwanda deterrent before it even started. We have seen from Australia that offshore deterrents work. 'Yet under Labour, 2025 is already the worst year on record for Channel crossings, with over 12,000 crossings and rising.'
