Labour’s announcement today is a tiny tweak at the edges of a crisis that demands radical change. The public are crying out for grip, for fairness, for control – but what they are offered are tiny paperwork changes.
Since Labour came to power, more than 52,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel, with over 29,000 already this year – making 2025 so far the worst year on record. No one is reassured by talk of tinkering family reunion rules at the edges. People are worried about their children walking past migrant hotels on the way to school.
They are worried about rising crime, with serious allegations already made against asylum seekers in towns like Epping. Girls as young as eight have been sexually assaulted or raped by illegal immigrants living in asylum hotels.
People here are also worried about fairness – watching local families wait years for housing while illegal arrivals are prioritised.
These are valid, real concerns, yet Labour dismiss them. Labour believes the rights of illegal immigrants trump those of local residents. They don’t.
Illegal immigrants should not be able to bring any family members over – they should be immediately removed from the country.
Labour’s refusal to disapply the Human Rights Act in immigration cases, means activist lawyers will continue to frustrate removals for years.
Unless Britain has the power to deport those who come here illegally, the crossings will keep on coming.
Yvette Cooper is boasting about so-called NCA disruptions, but the facts tell a very different story.
The latest National Crime Agency data shows arrests for organised immigration crime have actually fallen.
192 this year under Labour, down 16% from 229 the year before under a Conservative government.
The NCA themselves have made it clear that without a Rwanda-style removals agreement the gangs will never be stopped.
The Conservatives have a detailed and workable plan through our Deportation Bill.
We will ensure every illegal immigrants is immediately removed, strike the deterrent agreements the National Crime Agency says are essential and restore control of Britain’s borders.
The public can now see the dividing line. Only the Conservatives have the willpower and the plan to restore order, fairness, and control to our immigration system.
