Labour's new Borders Bill Will hand passports to illegal migrants'

LABOUR will make the Channel migrant crisis even worse by offering "the ultimate prize" of a British passport via its new Borders Bill, the Shadow Home Secretary warned last night.

- Michael Knowles

Chris Philp said his counterpart Yvette Cooper wanted to "fast-track criminals" so she can "pretend to be taking action".

He also slammed the party's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill for creating a "pathway to citizenship" that will convince migrants to cross the Channel.

He called it a "slap in the face" to law-abiding families living here.

The Home Secretary outlined her plan to end the small boats crisis last week, insisting that giving Border Force counter-terrorism style powers will allow the UK to "identify, disrupt and smash people-smuggling gangs" faster.

But it also repeals large swathes of the Illegal Migration Act, which denies illegal migrants the right to claim asylum or stay in the UK.

Mr Philp told the Daily Express: "Labour's reckless plan rewards lawbreakers and risks Britain's border security.

"It sells our country out, incentivising criminal activity with the promise of a golden ticket if they keep at it long enough. We must say no to backdoor citizenship, no to open borders and no to Labour's bare-faced betrayal of Britain."

Almost 250 small boat migrants arrived here in freezing conditions during the first three days of this month, official figures reveal.

It brings the total number so far this year to 1,344 in 25 vessels. Last year 36,816 were detected making the crossing. Sources believe the biggest boat had an incredible 120 people on board. Hundreds of criminals are believed to be involved in the trade.

Ms Cooper has insisted "smashing the gangs" will end the crisis.