Sir Keir Starmer has been handed a bleak prediction for the growing illegal migrant crisis, as a human rights lawyer declared things will “only get worse”.
Speaking to GB News, David Haigh predicted that this year’s figures are going to be “record-breaking” following a mass crossing on Wednesday.
New footage filmed by GB News showed illegal migrants being taken to the Kent port of Ramsgate having crossed into the UK on Wednesday.
The People’s Channel revealed that at least 10 migrant boats were launched by criminal gangs from French beaches.
Wednesday’s arrivals are likely to take the 2026 total so far to well over 2,000, higher than the totals at this point in both 2024 and 2025.
Discussing the latest Channel crossings, Mr Haigh told GB News: “The numbers are going to go up and up until we’re able to get a full grip of the situation and actually put in effective policies and plans that will change this, and that hasn’t happened yet.
“And I think you’re going to see a record-breaking year in terms of those coming across, and it’s just going to get worse, and that’s a real, real travesty.”
Asked by host Ellie Costello what Sir Keir Starmer needs to do to resolve the crisis, Mr Haigh said there are “many things” the Government could do.
Human Rights Lawyer David Haigh has handed Sir Keir Starmer a bleak migrant prediction as hundreds cross in one day
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GB NEWS / PA
He explained: “It’s very difficult, it’s always an impossible problem, but I think now with the Government in the situation they’re in, policies and procedures, there’s so many things that you can do.
“But let’s say, for instance, one area processing staff, speeding up the process of those coming across the Channel. Some people have been in asylum claims for up to ten years in my experience, which is absurd. So better quality people and faster processing so you get less mistakes, less appeals, that will bring it down.”
However, Mr Haigh made clear that unless the Government “changes our laws or leaves the ECHR”, the situation is not going to improve.
The Human Rights Lawyer argued: “The Government has said they’re not going to come out the ECHR to try and change those laws, but they haven’t made any real progress of changing those laws, so that’s not going to change it either.
Some 600 migrants arrived in Ramsgate on Wednesday | GB NEWS
“Unless you actually change our laws or leave, we’re going to have a problem in deporting people, and that’s not going to go away.”
Questioning Mr Haigh on whether political parties must understand that this crisis needs a “long term solution” spanning more than one term of Government, the lawyer agreed.
He explained: “I think we do. There are things that we can do and I think the current Government, and certainly Shabana Mahmood is talking tough, but they’re tinkering around the edges.
“But effective solutions are long term, because those solutions were not put in place. When we look at the previous Government, it was basically press release-driven policies to kind of appease people. But things like fixing the Home Office, fixing the border police, these are long term problems that take real investment and that investment in time.
Mr Haigh told GB News that the political parties are looking at a ‘long-term solution’ to the problem
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GB NEWS
“The money wasn’t put in before, it takes it takes time. Now if the Government changes in three years, whatever this Government has done will presumably be overturned, so we’re looking at a medium to long term solution.”
In a statement, a Home Office spokesman said: “This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings. We have stopped 40,000 crossing attempts since this Government came into office through our joint work with the French.
“We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally. Our pilot deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“The Home Secretary has also announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”