CHANNEL FURY
Sir Keir Starmer slammed as illegal Channel arrivals rise to 5,000 since the election
On Sunday a record 703 migrants crammed into 11 dinghies to make the most of calm seas
THE PM has been told to get a grip on illegal Channel arrivals as they soar to near 5,000 since he won the election.
Sir Keir Starmer was accused of ushering in a small boats free-for-all by ditching the Tories’ Rwanda deportation plan.
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Instead, he has promised to “smash the gangs” by setting up a Border Command unit.
On Sunday a record 703 migrants crammed into 11 dinghies to make the most of calm seas, while on Monday a further 125 arrived.
Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Since Labour have ditched our deterrent, more and more boats are crossing with more and more people in them — approaching 5,000 in under five weeks.”
He said the Government had “sent the wrong signal.”
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And he added: “They need to get a grip — and fast. Their phantom border command clearly isn’t working.”
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, accused the PM of encouraging gangs.
He told TalkRadio: “There’s 5,000 more people and that’s 5,000 more people getting free health care, free dentistry, free housing, free bed and free board.”
A Home Office spokesperson insisted: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which are undermining border security and putting lives at risk.
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"The new Government is taking steps to boost our border security — setting up the new Border Security Command which will bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies.
“It will be equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas, to smash the criminal smuggling gangs making millions in profit.”
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