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

Steming the tide ...migrants leaving France, Nigel Farage, below

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Writing in the Daily Express, Reform UK leader 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 then since entering No 10. All he has smashed are records on illegal immigration instead. 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.”

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 and new technology and equipment to step up intelligence gathering on smuggling gangs.

There will be more overtime for immigration compliance and enforcement teams as well as funding for interventions in transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “There is only one thing that will stop these crossings — we must deport them all immediately upon arrival.