Labour leader accused of opposing removal of foreign criminals

'We can't win if we don't deal with this'

- Jonathan Walker

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of opposing the removal of violent foreign criminals, as the Government vowed to “smash” people-smuggling gangs. 

Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick took the fight to the Labour leader as Tory MPs warned tackling the small boats crisis will “make or break” the party’s chances at the next election.

Mr Jenrick said: “There are plenty of Labour MPs who believe that enforcing our borders is immoral.”

In a sign that the Tories plan to focus on Starmer’s record in the run-up to the election, he said: “These MPs, of which Keir Starmer can count himself, have campaigned time after time to prevent the removal of violent and dangerous foreign national criminals from our country.”

Mr Jenrick insisted: “Only the Conservative Party can see the small boats crisis for what it is – the economic migration of predominantly young men from safe countries – and knows what it takes to smash the smuggling gangs and stop the boats.”