Labour’s so-called “17-in, one-out” migration policy is not just weak – it’s a disaster. For every illegal migrant removed, 17 are allowed to stay. In the last year alone, 44,000 people arrived illegally by small boat. Under Labour’s plan, just 2,600 would be returned. This is the latest catastrophic example that when Labour negotiates, the UK loses.
That means 94% of illegal Channel migrants will remain in the UK. This isn’t a deterrent. It’s a green light to the criminal gangs exploiting our border. Keir Starmer promised to “smash the gangs”, but since he took office, the situation has spiralled. Over 21,000 illegal arrivals have already crossed the Channel this year, the highest ever at this stage – including hundreds of migrants making the crossing on the same day as this pathetic deal was announced.
At this rate, we’re heading for a record-breaking 50,000 crossings by the end of the year. Starmer’s deal with the EU does nothing to stop the boats.
It simply manages failure by replacing each returnee with another migrant, a policy that does nothing to reduce numbers and everything to encourage more crossings.
His Government wasted no time dismantling the very tools designed to secure our borders. Within days, Labour scrapped the Rwanda plan before it even had a chance to start, tore up the Illegal Migration Act, weakened vital age assessments, and reopened the path to citizenship for illegal migrants.
Every one of these decisions removed a layer of deterrence. The result is Britain’s borders are being exploited on an unprecedented scale.
Only Labour could present a migration deal that keeps nearly all illegal arrivals in the country while pretending to solve the problem.
And only Starmer could call it a success. The truth is clear: Labour have no plan, no grip, and no credibility when it comes to border security. Whenever Labour negotiates, Britain loses.
Under Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives have a clear, tough, and deliverable plan to stop the boats. The new Deportation Bill will ensure illegal arrivals are swiftly removed and it restores the deterrent Labour scrapped.
The choice is stark: a Government that controls our borders, or a Labour Party that’s opened the floodgates and handed control to people smugglers.
Labour’s migrant surrender deal is threatening our borders. We’ve had enough of Starmer’s weak and ineffective gimmicks.
Chris Philp is the Shadow Home Secretary
