The former Director General of Border Force Tony Smith has named Sir Keir Starmer’s “biggest mistake” on migration policy since he first unlocked the door to No10.
Over the past week, almost 600 illegal migrants made the dangerous crossing across the Channel over the past five days – all thanks to the good weather creating ideal conditions to sail over the usually-choppy waves.
On Wednesday, more than 260 small boat migrants reached Britain’s shores at the start of several days of good weather in the English Channel.
The next day, some 150 small boat migrants made the same crossing – while another 116 small boat migrants crossed the English Channel today on Friday.
This morning, GB News counted 55 migrants disembarking a Border Force vessel in Dover.
Currently, another migrant boat is in French waters and attempting to reach the UK.
And Tony Smith, the ex-Border Force chief, sitting down with GB News today, said the rise in numbers was “all to do with the weather” after Britain enjoyed several days of sunshine and calmer weather conditions over the past week.
He continued: “We did have quite a few weeks where the weather was very bad in the Channel leading up to Christmas, and people were saying perhaps the Government’s got on top of this.
Almost 600 illegal migrants made the crossing over the past five days
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GB NEWS/GETTY
“But as the weather breaks, as spring breaks, then we’re seeing hundreds and hundreds coming up.
“We haven’t got into thousands yet, but it is all about the weather. And I’m afraid that when when that turns, then we’re going to continue to see the boats coming in.
“Unless there is a very significant change in policy, legislation and attitude, really, of the Government in terms of allowing people to claim asylum and to claim human rights when they get here.”
Meanwhile, presenter Nana Akua blasted the politicans who “haven’t got a clue” – taking aim at the Home Secretary’s latest policies to crack down on illegal migration, including handing out up to £40,000 to asylum seekers to leave the UK.
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Hundreds of migrants took advantage of the good weather to make the crossing this week
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GETTY
“To be fair to [Shabana Mahmood], she’s put forward a number of proposals regarding reducing the pull factor of reducing asylum support, making it harder for people to stay permanently if you come illegally, all of those things,” Mr Smith admitted.
However, the ex-migration chief pinpointed Labour’s “biggest mistake”: ditching Rishi Sunak’s flagship migration policy during his premiership.
“In my view, the biggest mistake we’ve made is abolishing the Rwanda plan,” Mr Smith said.
The controversial Government policy – first launched back in April 2022 – sought to send illegal migrants who arrived in the UK to Rwanda for full processing and resettlement.
Designed to deter migrants from making the perilous journey in the first place, the Conservatives were challenged on multiple occasions by human rights groups.
Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled the legislation unlawful in 2023.
However, a new arrangement with the Rwandan Government led the Conservatives to say they hoped one of the first flights carrying migrants would take place in the weeks after the 2024 General Election.
But, when the Tories were booted out of Whitehall in July 2024, Labour scrapped the legislation entirely on Sir Keir’s first day in office.
Mr Smith continued: “Well, the first mistake was not making the Rwanda plan in the Illegal Migration Act strong enough in the first place to enable us to overcome legal challenges, particularly in the field of human rights.
“As you know, the last Government marched us up towards the top of the hill.
“We never quite got there, but my heart sank when I heard that Keir Starmer was advocating the immediate abolishing of the Rwanda plan.
“I thought that was our best hope,” he admitted.