Labour’s “Smash the Gangs” Plan—A Comedy of Errors?
Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, has launched a fierce fire‑fight at the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s grand promise to “smash the gangs” behind the boat‑midnight runs that flood the UK’s shores.
What’s the Real Story?
- According to Migration Watch UK chairman Alp Mehmet, Starmer’s claim that Labour has done progress is, in his eyes, a political smokescreen.
- Mehmet scoffed: “They’re talking to other governments now, but that’s more about diverting attention from their failure to keep promises.”
- He added, “Let’s see what comes out of the conference. Instead of a big‑talk, the Prime Minister should actually get on with it.”
Wild Numbers: 30,000 Illegal Crossings?
Since the fallout of the last election, the UK is on track to see about 30,000 illegal crossings across the Channel, a staggering 32% jump from the previous year. That’s, frankly, the worst on record, according to Philp.
Why the Numbers Keep Rising
Philp blames Labour’s abrupt cancellation of the Rwanda deterrent—the scheme that would have moved asylum seekers outside the UK— and notes that other European powers are turning to offshore processing as a deterrent.
He says the government’s current approach is akin to hoping a storm will stop the boats, a strategy “not a plan”. Yvette Cooper was caught admitting that the government is simply crossing its fingers and praying for “bad weather.”
What’s on the Horizon?
One conference, a lot of talk, and not much impact. According to the NCAA, “law‑enforcement alone can’t stop illegal immigration.” We need a concrete deterrent—something that stops the boats before they even touch water.
In the end, Labour’s “smash the gangs” plan is still in tatters, and the numbers suggest that, for now, we’re on a steep climb.
