'LABOUR ARE COWARDS' OVER BOATS CRISIS

LABOUR has been branded a party of cowards and hypocrites for opposing plans to send illegal migrants to Rwanda.

- David Williamson

Home Secretary James Cleverly accused them of cynically resisting the flagship policy because they are afraid it will work.

In a blistering attack, he said Sir Keir Starmer's party would rather "carp from the sidelines" than take bold action to tackle the small boats crisis.

And he warned that Labour's "do nothing" approach could send the cost of asylum hotels and support rocketing to £11billion if it wins power.

Mr Cleverly lashed out as the Rwanda Bill which Labour has voted against 10 times reaches its final stages in Parliament this week.

Writing exclusively for the Sunday Express, he accused the opposition of hypocrisy, cynicism, ambiguity and cowardice. And he declared: "In not tackling the boats, Labour would not just take us back to square one, they would just keep moving backwards, absorbing more costs.

"The real reason is deep down they believe in open borders. But that is not what the British people want."

Mr Cleverly added: "They would scrap our deterrent, even if it works, and have no alternative of their own." 

The Government wants the first flights carrying migrants to the African state for processing to take off this spring and is battling to get the Bill on the statute books by the end of this month.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under intense pressure to stop the wave of small boats crossing the Channel after years of Tory efforts being thwarted. More than 3,000 migrants have arrived illegally this year - the highest for this period in six years.