By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-15 11:16:03 | Updated at 2024-12-15 13:41:39
2 hours ago
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has criticised Labour's deportation rates of Channel migrants, claiming that less than five per cent of those who crossed illegally are being removed from the UK.
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP said the current deportation numbers were "far too low".
Philp acknowledged that deportations had been increasing quarter on quarter, but argued that Labour had merely continued the trend established under the previous Conservative Government.
"The number that Labour deported of small boat people actually went down compared to the last Conservative Government's last quarter," he told GB News.
Philp claimed deportations of illegal migrants needs to increase
GB News
Philp's criticism comes as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced new border security measures, following new figures which confirmed that more than 35,000 migrants made the Channel crossing in small boats since January.
Cooper emphasised the need for "order and control" in the border and asylum system, travelling to Italy for talks on strengthening cooperation against smuggling gangs.
Philp pointed to an 18 per cent rise in small boat crossings under Labour compared to the same period last year, blaming the scrapping of the Rwanda scheme.
"We know that deterrence works. The National Crime Agency has said, we need a deterrent, and we saw it work in Australia about ten years ago as part of their Operation Sovereign Borders," he said.
"Cancelling that Rwanda scheme before it even started, was a massive mistake, and that is why small boats have gone up by 18 per cent under Labour," Philp added.
Philp emphasised the National Crime Agency's position that law enforcement alone cannot solve the Channel crossings issue.
"The National Crime Agency have said law enforcement alone won't fix it, because if you get rid of one criminal gang, another pops up, you do need a deterrent," he explained.
The Shadow Home Secretary claimed migrants in Calais had expressed hopes for a Starmer victory before the election.
Chris Philp told GB News that cancelling the Rwanda scheme was a 'massive mistake'
GB News
"We saw migrants giving interviews in Calais before the election saying how much they were hoping Keir Starmer gets in, gets elected as Prime Minister," he said.
Turning to EU relations, Philp issued a stark warning about Labour's future negotiations with Brussels.
"We need our Government to be very firm in any discussions to make sure that what the British people voted for in the referendum, like trade deals, that we can do all of those things," he said.
"We, in the Conservative opposition, we're going to be watching like hawks to make sure that Keir Starmer does not barter away any of our sovereignty that's been so hard-earned over the last few years," he declared.
