Illegal migration undermines the security of our borders. People are right to be angry when they see others disrespecting our laws. They’re right to question taxpayer money being spent on hotels instead of strained public services or improving their lives.
This is a global problem. And the only way to solve it is by working with our allies, influencing our neighbours, and projecting strength beyond our borders once more.
That starts in countries where migrants’ journeys begin, and it ends with our closest neighbours, from where people make the final treacherous journey to the UK.
In recent weeks, French police have taken tougher measures to stop dinghies leaving French waters. We’re going further, putting border patrols and specialist units on the French coast to stop the small boats leaving in the first place.
This week, President Macron and I agreed a groundbreaking pilot.
For the first time, a person who arrives illegally in this country via small boat will be sent back to France. In exchange, we will take one person who qualifies via a safe, legal and controlled route. Strict security checks will be in force, and the route only open to those who have not attempted to cross illegally before.
We will do our duty as a compassionate country, accepting genuine asylum seekers who respect our rules and our way of life. That is fair. Fair to those who are genuinely in need and fair to the British people who expect to see our rules recognised.
But people who try to make the crossing illegally will soon find themselves back where they started. That is a real deterrent. The Tories’ Rwanda gimmick spent £700 million of taxpayer money to remove four volunteers. 84,000 people crossed the Channel from the day the Rwanda deal was signed to the day it was scrapped. It didn’t deter anyone. We’re getting real and doing the hard yards to secure our borders.
I see my mission simply – ensuring we are strong abroad and secure at home, by working with our allies to get results for the British people.
There’s more to come. When Chancellor Merz of Germany visits the UK this week, we’ll discuss what more we can do together to prosecute criminal networks and prevent people smuggling to the UK. The networks of these criminal gangs stretch across countless countries and legal systems, showing no respect for our borders. We’ll go further to tackle this shared issue together.
We’re gripping the problem not just abroad, but at home too. We’ve deported more than 30,000 people with no right to be here. That’s the highest in almost a decade. And we’ve cracked down on illegal working. Arrests are up 50% – so people can’t be sold the lie of easy cash under the table.
This is what serious, practical solutions to global problems look like. No, it doesn’t solve the problem overnight. And I know Express readers want to see continued progress.
So do I. Which is why we are using every lever at our disposal to smash the gangs and stop illegal migration.
We’ve signed returns agreements this year with Iraq and Moldova. We’re sanctioning smugglers, freezing their assets, and banning their travel. And our new Border Security Command is up and running to tackle this issue at its root.
While we’re making deals, passing laws and getting results, others make noise and get nowhere.
The Tories took to shouting at or insulting the French.
Farage takes photos in the Channel.
We’re taking action, doing the real work of grown up, sensible, pragmatic diplomacy. The result? Three trade deals and agreements to stop illegal migration in its tracks.
Farage is terrified of this government succeeding at stopping illegal migration. He doesn’t want the numbers to go down, because he knows that when they do, he’ll fade into irrelevance.
I’m not going to stop working day and night to secure our borders, smash the gangs and make Britain a fairer, more secure country.