Andy Burnham blasted by Tory MP over 'unacceptable' handling of small boats crisis: 'It's a national security priority!'

Discussing the crisis on GB News, Mr Tugendhat argued the number of illegal migrants entering Britain "went up again" when Labour took office in 2024.

He said: "The last time that we saw the numbers falling was when we had the Rwanda scheme going, and we saw the numbers going down because people knew that they were going to get moved either to Rwanda or they were going to get hoofed out.

"And we saw people crossing the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland, so much so that the Irish interior minister was complaining about the Rwanda scheme because it was creating the deterrent effect in the UK.

"Now when Labour scrapped it, guess what? We got the numbers back up again."

Tom Tugendhat has hit out at Andy Burnham's 'unacceptable' handling of Britain's migrant crisis

GB NEWS / PA

The Tory MP warned the growing crisis is becoming a "real danger" to Britain.

He said: "This is absolutely unacceptable. It is absolutely a national security priority, we know that.

"It was reported only the other day that countries like Iran are trying to get people into the UK in these routes. It is a real danger and we simply cannot accept it."

Mr Tugendhat also praised the work of his colleague and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who has been carrying out an independent investigation from France on the state of the crisis.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has been on th French beaches investigating the migrant crisis

X / CHRIS PHILP

Mr Tugendhat said of Mr Philp's work: "Look at what Chris Philp has been exposing. Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, he's been in France.

"He was talking to the French Gendarmerie, and they were basically saying, 'Yeah, none of my business, mate.' It's not a great answer, is it? Because it's a real problem."

Pressed by host Dawn Neesom on Donald Trump's criticism of the UK's migrant crisis, Mr Tugendhat argued "whatever term you want to use" to describe the small boat crossings, the fact is "that we stop it".

He told GB News: "I agree with him that there's a massive problem. Whatever term you want to use, I don't really mind. What I really care about is the fact that we stop it, that's what's really important.

Tom Tugendhat told GB News it is becoming a 'real danger' to Britain

GB NEWS

"This isn't just about sweet words and sort of vibe coding our way into the future, this is about what is the plan. Kemi set out a really clear plan, and sadly, people like me who've been committed to international law in various different ways aren't happy about it.

"But it is the right thing to do to leave the organisations and the legal structures that stop us doing it, and I'm afraid the European Convention on Human Rights is one.

"So Kemi is absolutely right. She's the only leader setting out a proper plan, not just shouting about it, but doing something about it, and she will be ready when she's Prime Minister to make sure this stops."

A spokesman for Andy Burnham said: "I think the Prime Minister’s been clear in recent weeks that immigration is an issue that matters to people.

"He’s been clear in his reappointment of Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary to continue to deliver the reforms needed to restore fairness to the system and get migration under control."