Nigel Farage ripped into Sir Keir Starmer over the migrant crisis as he insisted it is “difficult to believe a single word our Prime Minister says”. The Reform UK leader took aim at the Prime Minister’s plan to move asylum seekers from hotels into military barracks.
He highlighted how the two sites that have been earmarked would hold 900 people, which is the number that cross the Channel in a single day when conditions are calm. Speaking on his GB News show, the Clacton MP said: “The Government has a big new idea. All these young men that cross the Channel will now be put in military barracks because it will be cheaper than hotels.”
A clip then played of Sir Keir saying: “We had years under the previous government where they didn’t process claims so tens of thousands of people didn’t have their claims processed, they were then housed in hotels.
“That was the policy of the last government. There were 400 at the height of it, it’s now about 200. I’m determined that we will close those hotels, we’re processing the claims much more quickly and where people have got no right to be in our country we’re removing them at a higher rate than the best part of a decade.
“So we’re taking the action but I can’t tell you how frustrated and angry I am that we’ve been left with a mess as big as this by the last government.”
Mr Farage then said: “Yes he was left a mess, of that there is absolutely no doubt.
“But since he came to power nearly 60,000 people have crossed the English Channel. In fact the numbers for this year are headed towards a record ever number, especially if we get two or three calm weeks between now and Christmas.
“And when he tells you he’s reduced the number of hotels, there are 8% more human beings in those migrant hotels than there were when he won the general election on July 4 last year.
“I’m sorry, it’s difficult to believe a single word our Prime Minister says.
“As for returns, most of those that are being sent home are overstayers on visas. When it comes to those that have crossed the Channel you can almost count on one hand.
“And when they claim this is a big step forward and there’s one site in East Sussex, one site up in Inverness, they’re military sites, they’ll house 900 people, think about this. That’s just one day’s crossing on a calm day in the English Channel.”
The plans will see men housed at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex.