Starmer under fire for 'deeply dishonest' migrant claims, says critics
For once Sir Keir Starmer was in tune with the mood of the country when he said he was 'angry' after more than 1,000 Channel migrants arrived over the weekend. But the Prime Minister was made to look foolish after being criticised for making 'deeply dishonest' claims about Labour's record on small boats.
Sir Keir boasted in an online post that 'almost 30,000 people' had been removed from the UK. However, this figure refers to all types of foreign nationals who have no right to live in the UK rather than those who arrive by crossing the Channel. The number of small boat migrants removed in the 12 months to March fell three per cent year-on-year to 2,240. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (Pictured) said: 'This is deeply dishonest. 'The number of removals of small boat arrivals has actually gone down under Labour.'
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch (pictured) said Sir Keir's claims were 'rubbish'. Some 1,195 Channel migrants arrived in the UK from northern France on Saturday – the fifth-highest daily total since the crisis began in 2018. The Prime Minister scrapped the Tories' Rwanda scheme, which was designed to deter migrants from crossing, as one of his first acts in office.
Since Labour came to power 38,053 migrants have reached Britain, up a third on the same period in 2023-24, when the figure was 28,452. Officials have privately admitted that internal Home Office assessments indicate Labour is on course to preside over the worst year for Channel crossings.
Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK which campaigns for tougher border controls, accused Sir Keir of attempting to 'intentionally mislead the public'. He added: 'The PM's suggestion that 30,000 Channel migrants have been removed is simply not true.'
Tory Justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said: 'His fantasy statistics take the public for fools. 'They can see through his smoke and mirrors. Starmer has lost control of our borders.' It comes as Home Office insiders have urged France to 'step up' and fulfil a promise to intercept dinghies at sea.
There is frustration within Labour at slow French progress in amending its rules so boats can be stopped once they are in the water, the Mail understands. France first pledged the change earlier this year but has still not completed a legal review, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Monday. A Home Office source said: 'The French committed to intervene in the water in February, it's about time they stepped up and did what they've told us they're going to do.'
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