The Prime Minister has been accused of taking a “cowardly” approach to the migration crisis.
Andy Burnham revealed his plans to tackle small boat crossings on Sunday (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has come under fire following his latest promise to tackle the UK’s migrant crisis. During a recent visit to Dover, the Prime Minister pointed out that the number of small-boat crossings had been reduced by 50% in the last year. “Clearly, progress is being made, but we’re not complacent,” he said on Sunday.
“We’re just going to be relentless. People want to see this issue addressed, I heard that on the doorsteps in Makerfield. But we also need to build a system that offers people safe routes, because that takes away the gangs’ selling point. So, on every level, we’ve got to come at this, but crucially, increasing the enforcement activity.”
Noting that “much more needs to be done,” the Labour Leader reiterated that the issue must be addressed. “The public doesn’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled. We need to bring back that control, but also, we need to offer support to people who genuinely need it. It’s about changing the whole approach,” he added.
The Prime Minister promised that the Labour Government would be “relentless” (Image: Getty)
Reacting to Pearson’s post, several shared their thoughts on X. “He is gaslighting: he has no solutions. The honeymoon will be short,” replied one. “@andyburnham, you are as clueless as Starmer if you think that’s anything like good enough,” wrote a second. “Yet again, we are powerless standing with a leader who does not speak for us,” remarked a third. “How many more career opportunists before we get a leader who is capable of listening and leading?”
Following Burnham’s remarks, columnist and author Allison Pearson has slammed the PM for taking a “cowardly” approach. “Providing safe routes is a cowardly way of saying letting in lots more people no one wants. This is a national emergency,” she tweeted.