An MP has criticised Andy Burnham and the government on GB News.
Andy Burnham has been condemned for not warning the MP for Gosport that a group of 149 migrants were arriving via small boat (Image: Getty)
An MP has called out Andy Burnham and the government following the arrival of 149 small boat migrants in Gosport on Sunday (October 4) night. Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, has condemned the lack of communication from Labour, revealing she was given “absolutely no forewarning” about the arrival of the migrants. Dinenage added to GB News presenters Tom Harwood and Emily Carver that she still hasn’t heard anything from the Home Office to alert her about the small boat arrival or offer her support. “I was given absolutely no forewarning and even as we speak, I have still not been contacted by the Home Office or the government in any capacity to alert me, offer any assistance, or give me any information that I can share with my constituents to try and address this really unpleasant and difficult situation we’ve seen unfolding in Gosport,” she said.
Harwood acknowledged that it’s “pretty shocking” from the government for “not actively outreaching” and suggested it looks as though they are attempting to carry out these operations “under the cloak of darkness”.
“I cannot express how furious I am. Like local residents, I was beginning to pick up stories that there was another boat crossing the Channel in our neck of the woods early yesterday afternoon,” Dinenage explained.
It comes after another boat carrying illegal migrants heading to Gosport was redirected to Dover.
The politician said she directly reached out to the Home Office minister at around 1 o’clock on Sunday afternoon, but said she still hasn’t received a response.
“This comes in the wake of both myself, the leader of the council, our police and crime commissioner all writing to the Home Secretary expressing in the strongest possible terms that this is not a suitable location to land these boats,” Dinenage revealed.
The stunned presenter pointed out that it had been almost 24 hours and the government had still not offered any kind of response.
Dinenage revealed that Shabana Mahmood has not replied to her letter, despite it being sent two weeks ago.
“That’s quite incredible,” Carver remarked.
The arrival of the migrants sparked outrage amongst the locals in Gosport, leading to protestors chanting “send them back”.
Police established cordons, resulting in six people arrested following clashes, implementing a dispersal order alongside a face-covering ban.
Authorities dispatched ambulances and coaches to the area, later confirming the newly arrived individuals would be transported for processing in Kent to undergo standard health, security and biometric checks.