Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has launched a scathing attack on Labour’s decision to scrap the Rwanda migration scheme, branding the party a “weak government”.
Speaking to GB News, Philp criticised Labour for being “not willing to take the action necessary” to address the Channel crossings crisis.
The comments come as new figures show boat crossings have increased under Labour’s leadership compared to last year.
After coming into power in July, Labour abandoned the previous Conservative government’s Rwanda scheme, which had planned to deter crossings by sending migrants to the East African nation.
Chris Philp called on Labour to restore the Rwanda scheme
GB News
Speaking to GB News Chris Philp said: “Kemi and I agree, if it’s not Rwanda, it needs to be something very similar to Rwanda.
“But what we’re both calling on Labour to do immediately is restore that Rwanda scheme, because the fact they cancelled it before it even started means we have no deterrent.
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“The National Crime Agency says we need a deterrent, and boat crossings have gone up under Labour compared to last year as a result.”
He added: “You don’t need to send 50,000 people to either Nauru or to Rwanda to stop the boats.
“You just do it for two or three months, and people pretty soon realize there is no point crossing the channel and it just stops.
“That is why it was such a massive mistake of the Labour government to cancel the Rwanda deterrent before it even started, because they are a weak government who are not willing to take the action necessary.”
Keir Starmer has stated he wants to reduce both regular and irregular migration
PA
Keir Starmer has stated he wants to reduce both legal and illegal migration but has avoided setting specific targets, arguing that an “arbitrary” cap would not work.
Under a new UK-Germany deal, Berlin has pledged to reform its legal framework to make facilitating migrant smuggling to Britain a clear criminal offence.
Currently, people-smuggling to countries outside the EU is not technically illegal in Germany.
The Home Office said the legal changes would give German prosecutors more tools to tackle the supply and storage of dangerous small boats.
Chris Philp slammed the “weak” governments
GB News
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: “Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve.”
Both countries will also work together to remove migrant-smuggling content from social media platforms and tackle criminal smuggling networks.
Latest figures reveal over 33,000 people have crossed the English Channel by small boat this year.
This represents an increase from the 29,000 crossings recorded last year, though remains below the record numbers seen in 2022.
