'Young males crossing the Channel illegally are a national security crisis'

LABOUR'S £100million pledge to fight people smugglers will not stop small boat crossings, Nigel Farage says.

- Steph Spyro

The Reform UK leader branded record illegal migration levels a “national security crisis”, while the Tories suggested Labour’s latest “gimmick” will not make a significant difference. The Home Office last night announced additional funding to support a pilot scheme of a new ‘one in, one out’ returns agreement with France.

Writing in the Daily Express, Mr Farage said: “This is not the first time we have seen a Labour or Conservative Government throw taxpayer money at the illegal immigration crisis and hope it will go away. Keir Starmer told us he would smash the gangs, first in opposition, and since entering No10. All he has smashed are records on illegal immigration. Crossings are up 50% on this time last year. Another £100million here or there won’t move the needle. It won't stop the boats or the gangs.”

Smuggling

Labour is urgently seeking to deter smuggling gangs in a bid to stop small boat crossings after the number of illegal migrants hopping the Channel topped 25,000 last week — marking a record for this point in the year.

The cash will pay for up to 300 more National Crime Agency officers, new technology and equipment to step up intelligence gathering on smuggling gangs.