What Labour has done on immigration
Since the election in July, the government has taken swift action to secure our borders, reduce illegal migration, and dismantle the criminal gangs profiting from human misery, while also remembering that at the heart of the issue are real people – families fleeing conflict, oppression and economic hardship.
Labour has overseen the largest deportation flights on record, with over 13,500 people without the right to remain in the UK being removed. Arrests for illegal working are up almost a third compared to the same period last year. The government is on track to meet its pledge of having the highest rate of deportations since 2018 within the first six months in office.
The Home Office has restored order to the asylum process and is clearing a huge backlog of claims, driving down the cost of asylum accommodation and allowing those who do have a right to remain to begin contributing positively to society. Labour has also committed to ending the use of asylum hotels, which are wholly inappropriate.
“The government is working tirelessly to break up the dangerous criminal gangs that profit from smuggling people across our borders.”
Alongside these important measures, the government is working tirelessly to break up the dangerous criminal gangs that profit from smuggling people across our borders. The establishment of the Border Security Commander has been pivotal in uniting police, Border Force and intelligence agencies to tackle the complex networks behind people smuggling. With the help of international partners, more than 100 small boats have been stopped from crossing the English Channel. Sniffer dogs have been trained to detect rubber dinghies, ensuring that perilous crossings can be intercepted before they happen.
£150 million has been committed to fight human trafficking and people smuggling, funding 300 new staff for the Border Security Command, allowing 100 specialist investigators to tackle the criminal networks through the National Crime Agency (NCA) and enhancing our technological capabilities to work with international law enforcement agencies.
Internationally, the government is also making significant progress. A landmark deal with Iraq will help tackle people smuggling gangs at their source and close cooperation with Germany, France and other European partners is strengthening our collective ability to combat this global issue. Through the G7 Anti-Smuggling Action Plan, governments have committed to sharing best practices, disrupt criminal supply chains and work with social media platforms to curb the advertisement of illegal migration.
“Our community was shocked by the actions of far-right rioters who took to the streets in a disgraceful attempt to target migrants.”
Over the summer, in Blackpool and elsewhere, we witnessed firsthand the consequences of unchecked criminal activity targeting vulnerable people. Our community was shocked by the actions of far-right rioters who took to the streets in a disgraceful attempt to target migrants. This was not only an attack on vulnerable people but an assault on our values of tolerance, respect and solidarity.
In the face of this hate, Labour was unwavering in its commitment to protect immigrants and ensure justice. As the MP for Blackpool South, I stand firmly against the actions of these far-right extremists. The swift action taken by the police and local authorities to protect our community and ensure justice for the victims was crucial, but we must also look at how we can prevent further violence in the future.
In September Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, provided Blackpool Council with a £600k riot recovery fund. The money is targeted at activities to improve community cohesion, clean ups and repair, and to improve community security and communications. The Department for Education also published guidance on Educate Against Hate – a programme that supported schools and colleges to talk to their staff and students about the violent disorder over the summer.
As the necessary work is carried out to take back control of of borders, we must not forget our humanitarian obligations. We are a compassionate nation and I am proud of our commitment to providing refuge for the most vulnerable – people fleeing war, persecution and suffering.
In Blackpool, we understand what it means to support people when they need help the most. We have long been a town that opens its doors to newcomers, whether they are British citizens or migrants starting new lives. I witness daily the positive impact that immigrants have in our community and we must continue to be a welcoming, inclusive environment while ensuring that our immigration system works fairly and efficiently.
This work to both to strengthen our borders and to uphold our humanitarian obligations to migrants is necessary. The government must strike a careful balance between security and compassion, ensuring that we protect both the safety of our citizens and the dignity of those who seek refuge in our country.
