Giving millions of pounds to Afghanistan and Iran will stop migrant crisis, suggests Labour MP

Speaking at a fringe event hosted by the Refugee Council, the Walthamstow MP said: "You talk about how to make it a more stable country, clearly aid has a role.

"So on the left we need to join the dots, why do we see international aid as part of our national security… it also helps stabilise a nation."

The UK had committed to spending 0.7 per cent of its national income on foreign aid while Sir Tony Blair was Prime Minister.

However, the Tories cut the amount spent assisting other countries to 0.5 per cent before Sir Keir slashed the fund to just 0.3 per cent.

Ms Creasy added: "Too often we talk about deterrent, we ought to be talking about prevention.

"I want to stop the boats, I don’t want anyone to suggest anything otherwise.

Stella Creasy hit out at Sir Keir Starmer's decision to cut foreign aid as Prime Minister

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"The best way to stop the boats is often to stop the conflicts, and we have to talk about the fact that cuts to international aid have had consequences on our ability to be on the ground and to intervene and to help manage the causes that make people flee, fearing their lives.”

Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran topped the list of nationalities for small boat migrants in the year to June 2026, Home Office data has revealed.

Labour spent £420million in foreign aid to Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia in its first full year.

The funding, which was predominantly paid to UN agencies and charities, was largely spent on emergency food, healthcare and support for women and children.

The total number of small boat migrants who have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power in 2024 now stands at 84,375.

The figure includes 6,666 who arrived on British shores since Mr Burnham succeeded Sir Keir.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp pointed out the figure means the number of small boat arrivals under Labour has now surpassed the number of soldiers in the British Army.

However, 126,844 migrants arrived in Britain via dinghy under the Tories, taking the total to 211,219, which is roughly the same size as Portsmouth.

During his first conference speech as Prime Minister, Mr Burnham looked to tackle the Channel crisis head on.

He said: "I understand the anger about what is happening in the Channel."

The Prime Minister added: "People arriving on small boats down 40 per cent on the last year, 50 per cent from the early 2020s."

However, Mr Burnham also claimed leaving the EU had weakened Britain's grip on its borders.

He said: "Brexit hasn't given us control. We've lost some of our control over immigration."

But Mr Burnham failed to mention foreign aid in his speech.

The Prime Minister was mulling over increasing foreign aid to 0.7 per cent ahead of entering No10.

Sources told The Independent that Mr Burnham was planning a roadmap towards 0.7 per cent.