Labour's dereliction of duty as Keir Starmer failing this basic responsibility

OPINION

TV channel GB News reported last Wednesday that a staggering 820 small boat migrants had crossed the English Channel – the highest number so far this year in a single day. That took the total number of those crossing the Channel since the start of 2025 to well over 13,000. But is anyone surprised? Labour has singularly failed to tackle this growing problem almost a year since it scrapped the Conservative’s Rwanda scheme which would have seen those arriving by small boats processed in the East African nation.

Keir Starmer branded the plan a “gimmick”, but such a deterrent would have worked as similar schemes have been successful for countries like Australia and Italy. Those attempting to enter those countries illegally are processed or detained ‘offshore’ in another country.

You do not need to be the sharpest tool in the box to see that such an outcome would deter significant numbers from taking a chance to cross the Channel to get entry into the UK.

Instead, Starmer chose to play politics as opposed to putting the people of this country first and dumped the plan which had already cost the British taxpayer many millions of pounds. If he had continued with it, we would not be seeing these record-breaking numbers.

He is now playing catch-up and desperately scratching around for similar solutions to try and curb this ever-rising form of illegal migration.

Last Wednesday was also significant for two other reasons. Two people died attempting to cross the Channel bringing the total to 17 so far this year. The Government has a moral duty to stop these crossings and the loss of lives.

Wednesday also saw a flotilla of 66 vessels organised by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships set sail to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo which saw more than 338,000 allied troops evacuated from Dunkirk over 10 days in 1940.

The fleet was requested to divert because of a migrant dinghy in difficulties on the water. The dinghy in question had 80 people onboard but was only designed to carry 20. Despite being in trouble, only 10 people onboard requested to be rescued whilst the others said they wished to continue to sail to British shores.

The irony of the Dunkirk anniversary flotilla being diverted because of a dinghy carrying people trying to enter the UK illegally is not lost on anyone.

These crossings must be stopped and there is no easy or pleasant way of doing so. Starmer’s ‘smashing the gangs’ mantra will not cut it. A robust deterrent is desperately needed but I doubt this government really has it in them to implement one.

The DNA of the Labour Party has always featured a very relaxed approach to immigration and support for those they class as asylum seekers or refugees.

It is well documented that safe countries must be travelled through before ending up in France which itself is a perfectly safe country to remain in.

However, in France only 25% of asylum applications receive a positive decision compared to 70% of accepted cases in the UK. Those crossing the Channel are choosing to do so because there is a better chance of being granted leave to remain here.

Others decide to come to these shores because of family connections or because they believe they can develop a better quality of life in Britain. Economic migrants they might be – genuine asylum seekers fleeing tyranny or persecution I seriously doubt.

We also have no idea who is arriving here or any clue to their background as passports or identity documents are often dumped at sea or destroyed before getting on a dinghy. This is clearly a national security issue for all kinds of reasons.

It is not racist or xenophobic to be angry or concerned about the record numbers we see crossing our waters on an almost daily basis. The British people are fair and tolerant, but do not like being taken for mugs.

When Home Office figures reveal the cost of housing migrants in hotels is more than £8million a day, you can understand why people are hacked off. And with the National Audit Office – the public spending watchdog – predicting that the cost of migrant accommodation is expected to more than triple to £15.3billion over ten years (2019 – 2029) then it is clear we can no longer afford this crisis.

Costs aside, one of the basic responsibilities of any government is to secure its borders. With the UK it should be an easier task as we are surrounded by water, but Labour is failing. It is a dereliction of duty that they will pay for at the next general election.