Keep fighting, all illegal migrants must be deported

THE STORY of The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, is a parable for this Government's failure to control our borders.

- By Robert Jenrick

A fortnight ago I went to visit peaceful protesters outside The Bell. Back when I was Immigration Minister I ordered its closure, only for Labour to reopen it because of the record numbers crossing the Channel.

Westminster had shown no interest in the protesters. Starmer hadn't bothered to turn up. But the local people deserved to have their concerns listened to and acted upon.

In the weeks prior there had been a spate of serious crimes allegedly committed by illegal migrants. When I spoke to local residents, one mother told me how her daughter's school suggested students avoid certain parts of town on their walk home.

Her young daughter told me that men from the hotels loiter in spots "where they look at us".

Another mother told me how her daughter bought a pair of construction worker's boots to put outside the house, to make it look as if there is a man inside.

I have nothing but sympathy for these peaceful, patriotic protesters whose concerns I share. I certainly don't want my children to share a neighbourhood with men from backward countries who broke into Britain and about whom we know next to nothing. And I don't want anyone else's family to have it forced on them either.