Labour MP Mike Tapp has declared Britain’s immigration system is “completely out of control” following record-breaking migration figures.
The Dover and Deal MP’s comments come as new data from the Office for National Statistics showed net migration reached more than 900,000 in the year to June 2023.
Speaking on GB News, Tapp called for British workers to be put first, criticising the current state of immigration.
“What we’ve inherited is completely out of control hence, 1 million,” said Tapp, addressing the stark rise in numbers that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has blamed on Conservative policies.
Mike Tapp says the UK’s legal migration system is ‘out of control’
GB News
Tapp highlighted the decline in domestic skills development, pointing to a concerning trend in apprenticeships.
“We’re looking at apprenticeships into things like engineering have halved, while those visa applications that were accepted doubled,” he said.
The Dover MP emphasised the need to reduce reliance on overseas workers.
“The priority has to be jobs for British people,” Tapp stated, arguing for a pragmatic approach to immigration caps.
New data from the Office for National Statistics showed net migration reached more than 900,000 in the year to June 2023
Getty
He explained: “The cap I would set would be, how many do we need to keep the economy growing? And the fact is, if you’re failing to ensure that British people have jobs, you will need to import outside work.”
While advocating for stricter controls, Tapp acknowledged the valuable contribution of migrant workers.
He said: “Of course, and I must say this, they do have a value as well, and we mustn’t downplay that. But it’s got to be work for British people first.”
The MP highlighted urgent domestic challenges requiring attention.
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Tapp told GB News that Labour has inherited a system that is ‘completely out of control’
GB News
“We’ve got to make sure that people can see a GP, that there’s houses available for young people,” he stated.
Tapp blamed Conservative governance for the current situation.
“The ghost of the last 14 years that the Tories subject us to will be there for years to come,” he warned.
Labour’s proposed solutions include strengthening border security through multiple initiatives.
Tapp highlighted the party’s Border Security Command initiative, which will involve MI5, alongside a new deal with Iraq to combat people smuggling. The MP pointed to Labour’s success in deportations since taking office.
“Already, we see nearly 10,000 deported under the Labour government. That’s a 50 per cent increase on what we saw the previous year with the Conservatives,” he said. He noted that 14 per cent of those deported were foreign offenders.
Dismissing the previous government’s Rwanda deportation scheme as ineffective, Tapp told GB News: “It was a ridiculous scheme across £75million pounds,” arguing it would have taken “99 years to deport those that crossed in that way.”
The MP emphasised Labour’s focus on practical solutions instead. “What is a deterrent is 10,000 deportations since Labour came into government and will continue down that route,” he stated.
