Reform issues stunning rebuke of Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper amid warning border crisis ‘spiralling out of control’
Reform UK has issued a major rebuke of Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper as the Channel crossing crisis risks “spiralling out of control” under Labour.
The populist party is doubling down its pressure on the Prime Minister and his Home Secretary as migrants continue to make the perilous 21-mile journey.
More than 8,800 migrants have arrived on British shores via small boats since Labour won the 2024 General Election on July 4.
Reform UK highlighted how the figure stood at 133.5 per day, lower than the 95 per day average witnessed in the Tory Party’s dying days in Downing Street.
Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, who was involved in a three-way race with the Tories and Labour, argued Labour adopted a lax attitude towards migration.
The ex-Southampton FC chairman said: “Labour entered office promising to tackle the gangs, instead of making hay with this promise, Cooper and Starmer have allowed the crisis at the border to spiral out of control.
“It’s only today that it’s been reported that the NCA has a retention crisis, we’re being told the National Crime Agency is ‘on its knees’ and losing more officers than it recruits.
“It’s clear to British people up and down the country that things will only get worse.
“Immigration is now clearly the number one priority for voters in the UK and instead of tackling it, Labour have decided to punish pensioners. It’s high time Starmer and Cooper started focusing on the people’s priorities.
“Both the Conservatives and Labour have failed our borders. Only Reform UK is serious about tackling the scourge of people trafficking and small boat crossings by turning the boats back.”
Reform UK also warned an asylum backlog of 100,000 is damaging the speed at which claims can be processed.
However, Nigel Farage’s party also stressed very few of the 20,605 people who were identified for consideration as inadmissible have been removed.
Home Office Minister Dame Diana Johnson reiterated this morning that the Government have faith in the National Crime Agency to deal with the crisis.
She said: “The NCA, as I know, has had an additional 100 investigators recently.
“We’re moving the money that was misspent on the Rwanda policy to provide additional support, and of course, we’re in the middle of a spending review, and we will be wanting to make the case very strong and loud to ensure that all our agencies that are involved in law enforcement have the resources that they need.”
Asked if she had confidence in the National Crime Agency, Johnson added: “In the NCA? Yes, I have absolute confidence.
“I think, you know, they were at the summit on Friday in Downing Street, looking at all the operational action that needs to be taken to smash the gangs. Absolutely, I’ve got confidence, yes.”
However, there have been growing concerns that Labour’s plan to deal with the crisis will not halt boats crossing the Channel.
Labour’s returns plan will target people who are here illegally, for example, if their asylum claims are rejected because their home country is deemed safe.
Starmer is also hoping to work with European allies and set up a new Border Command Force with the funds freed up by axing the Rwanda scheme.