Andy Burnham is facing a migrant warning (Image: Getty)

Labour is facing a “crisis of legitimacy” over its failure to deport foreign criminals roaming Britain’s streets, critics declared. Some 21,294 convicted offenders facing removal are living in communities, according to Home Office figures.

And new analysis has revealed crooks from Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria and Bangladesh are far more likely to still be in the UK. It comes as a new poll – shared exclusively with the Daily Express – suggests almost 70% of Britons want every foreign criminal convicted of an offence in the UK to be removed. Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said: “The vast majority of the British public hold the common-sense view that any migrant who commits a crime in this country should be deported, yet we now know criminals from some countries face no real prospect of removal.

“Whilst Trump is now rowing back on his own removals agenda, all available evidence suggests the British electorate are more uncompromising on this matter than Americans, and would be in favour of a mass deportation programme.

“The Home Office is facing a crisis of legitimacy – putting 20,000 foreign criminals back on Britain’s streets has exposed the public to a real and present danger. Not only is the government failing to act, but it is going to court to block the publication of migrant crime figures to deliberately hide the truth about migrant crime from the public.”

Some 69% of Britons believe foreign nationals should be deported if they are convicted of a crime, according to a poll for the Centre for Migration Control. This includes 60% of Labour voters in the 2024 General Election, and 62% if a national ballot were called today.

Conservative and Reform voters overwhelmingly support plans to deport every foreign criminal, 95% and 96%, respectively. But one in five people in London oppose proposals to deport every foreign criminal, according to the poll carried out by Find Out Now.

Home Office figures, obtained through Freedom of Information requests, show 773 offenders were awaiting deportation to Nigeria in June 2025 – the latest published figures. But only 37 had been returned over the previous 12 months.

And 775 Jamaicans subject to enforcement action are still roaming around in towns, villages and cities. Only 24 were booted out in the previous 12 months. Some 569 Algerians were languishing in the community in June 2025. Over the 12 months to June 2025, 25 were sent back to Algiers.

Only 3.1% of convicted Jamaicans have been deported, along with 3.4% of Sri Lankans, 3.7% of Moroccans, 4.2% of Algerians, 4.8% of Nigerians and 6.2% of Bangladeshis.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp: “It took me a year to get these figures out of the Home Office, who spent a year trying to hide them and only released them last week when faced with an appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

“Now the shameful truth is clear – while large numbers of Eastern European criminals are deported, very few are deported to countries outside Europe. Just 5% of Nigerian serious criminals in the community were deported last year and only 3% of Jamaicans.

“Many have gone on to commit serious offences, including murder and rape, when they should have been deported after their first crime. They use often made-up human rights, asylum and modern slavery claims to stay here.

“Shabana Mahmood once even wrote a letter protesting against the deportation of any Jamaican criminal. I’m sick to the stomach of the supposed rights of foreign criminals being put ahead of keeping British women and girls safe.

“If I’m Home Secretary, we will leave the ECHR and slavery research and ban asylum claims by foreign criminals so they all get deported. I will put the safety of British citizens first. It’s a shame Labour is not doing the same.”

 

Home Office figures show 21,294 convicted crooks are living in the community because they have not been deported.

This is up by more than 1,000 in the past three months alone, with officials blaming the Government’s changes to sentencing rules. Ministers introduced a “presumption” against sentences of under 12 months and tweaked deportation rules in a bid to boot out foreign criminals given a suspended sentence of 12 months or more.

But critics fear it is “just making more people eligible for return who aren’t going to leave”. It has nearly doubled from 10,373 in the final three months of 2020.

And Home Office records show 82 convicted killers and 233 rapists left immigration detention facilities in the year to June. But the Government will not say how many of these were released on bail or how many had been deported.

It comes as US president Donald Trump signalled that he may be willing to water down his own migrant crackdown.

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The Republican leader said he “got an A+ for closing up the border” and got “very high marks for getting the bad ones out”.

“But I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs, that created one violation, or breaking of the law, and that was that they came into the country illegally,” he added.

“Now, there is a large part of the country that thinks that they should be put out. And there’s a large part of the country that thinks that they should be allowed to stay if they’re good people working in a landscaping company, or working in a hotel, or doing something, right? And in some cases, paying taxes.

“I think it was too tough. A lot of people would say that it’s great, but a lot of people think it’s too tough.”

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Any foreign national who receives a prison sentence in the UK is referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity and will be barred from ever returning.

“Returns are at their highest level in nearly a decade. Nearly 12,000 foreign criminals, including murderers and rapists, have been returned or deported in the two years since the last election – a 41% increase on the two years prior.”

Bombshell New Poll Delivers Blow to Andy Burnham as Labour Faces Migrant Crisis

Andy Burnham’s Labour government is facing growing political pressure as a new opinion poll raises serious questions about public confidence in its handling of immigration. The latest findings represent a potential setback for the Prime Minister, with concerns about illegal migration, small boat crossings and pressure on public services continuing to dominate Britain’s political debate.

Immigration has become one of the most challenging issues facing Labour since taking office. Although ministers have promised a more effective approach to border security, many voters remain concerned about the number of people arriving in Britain through irregular routes and the government’s ability to control the situation.

The latest polling controversy has intensified the debate over whether Labour can deliver meaningful improvements before the next general election. It has also created an opportunity for opposition parties, particularly Reform UK and the Conservatives, to challenge Burnham’s leadership and question whether his government has a credible long-term immigration strategy.

For Burnham, the political danger is considerable. Immigration is not simply an issue of border management. It is closely connected to public confidence in government, pressure on housing and healthcare, national security and the wider question of Britain’s ability to enforce its laws.

New Opinion Poll Raises Questions About Labour’s Immigration Strategy

The latest polling developments have highlighted the difficulties Labour faces in convincing voters that it has a clear plan for controlling immigration.

Public concern has continued despite government promises to strengthen border enforcement, increase cooperation with European countries and dismantle criminal networks involved in people smuggling.

Many voters believe that the small boats crisis remains unresolved. Images of overcrowded inflatable boats crossing the English Channel have become a powerful symbol of the government’s difficulties in controlling irregular migration.

For communities concerned about housing shortages, pressure on local authorities and limited public resources, immigration has become an increasingly important political issue.

The challenge for Labour is that voters will judge its performance not only by the policies it announces but also by whether those policies produce visible results.

However, without the exact polling organisation, fieldwork dates and figures, it is important not to assume that one survey represents a definitive collapse in support for Burnham. Opinion polls can vary significantly depending on methodology, sample size and the questions being asked.

Nevertheless, the wider political debate demonstrates that immigration remains a major vulnerability for the government.

The Small Boats Crisis Continues to Challenge Labour

One of the most difficult issues facing Burnham is the continuing arrival of migrants across the English Channel.

The small boats phenomenon has placed considerable pressure on British border authorities and created a political dispute involving the United Kingdom and France.

Labour has promised to tackle the criminal gangs responsible for organising dangerous crossings. Its strategy focuses on intelligence sharing, international cooperation, stronger law enforcement and disrupting the financial networks used by smugglers.

The government argues that targeting organised criminal networks is more effective than relying exclusively on deterrence measures.

However, critics believe that Labour has failed to demonstrate sufficient progress.

The Conservatives and Reform UK have repeatedly argued that the government needs a tougher approach, including stronger deportation arrangements and greater restrictions on irregular migration.

Nigel Farage has particularly focused on the issue, presenting the continued arrival of small boats as evidence that Britain’s immigration system is not functioning effectively.

For Labour, the difficulty is that tackling smuggling networks can take considerable time, while voters expect immediate improvements.

Labour Faces Growing Pressure Over Its Dealings with France

Cooperation with France remains a central part of the government’s immigration strategy.

Successive British governments have attempted to negotiate arrangements that would reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel.

However, returning people who arrive irregularly in Britain is legally and politically complicated.

France has its own immigration laws, asylum procedures and international obligations. Any agreement must establish clear eligibility rules, practical arrangements and appropriate safeguards.

Labour has sought closer cooperation with French authorities to improve enforcement and prevent dangerous crossings.

Critics argue that these arrangements have not yet delivered the results promised by ministers.

They also question whether financial contributions to France are producing sufficient improvements in border security.

The government insists that international cooperation remains essential because people-smuggling networks operate across national boundaries.

Without effective cooperation between British and European authorities, criminal organisations may simply change their routes and methods.

Reform UK Sees an Opportunity to Challenge Labour

The immigration controversy has created an opportunity for Nigel Farage and Reform UK.

Farage has repeatedly argued that successive governments have failed to control Britain’s borders and that the political establishment has ignored public concerns.

Reform UK has made immigration one of its central political priorities, promising tougher enforcement, restrictions on immigration and a more aggressive approach towards deportations.

The party believes that dissatisfaction with Labour’s immigration policies could attract voters who previously supported the Conservatives.

This presents a serious challenge for Burnham, particularly in constituencies where immigration and public-service pressures are major concerns.

The Conservatives also face an opportunity to rebuild their reputation on border security after years of criticism over their own record in government.

Both opposition parties are likely to use the latest polling developments to argue that Labour has failed to fulfil its promises.

The Economic and Social Consequences of Immigration

The immigration debate is also closely connected to Britain’s economic difficulties.

Supporters of immigration argue that foreign workers make an important contribution to the economy, particularly in healthcare, social care, construction, hospitality and other sectors experiencing labour shortages.

International students and skilled workers also contribute to universities, businesses and public finances.

However, rapid population growth can create additional pressure on housing, transport, schools and healthcare services when investment and infrastructure do not keep pace.

This creates a difficult policy challenge for the government.

Labour must demonstrate that immigration arrangements are fair, properly managed and consistent with the country’s economic needs.

It must also address concerns among communities that feel they are competing for limited housing and public services.

A successful immigration strategy therefore requires more than reducing the number of people arriving through irregular routes. It also requires effective planning, adequate infrastructure and a transparent system for managing legal migration.

Can Andy Burnham Restore Public Confidence?

The most important question facing Burnham is whether he can convince voters that his government has control of the situation.

Political promises are unlikely to be enough if the public continues to see small boat arrivals, lengthy asylum decisions and pressure on accommodation services.

Labour will need to demonstrate measurable improvements in several areas, including faster processing of asylum applications, effective removal arrangements for people with no legal right to remain and stronger action against organised smuggling networks.

It will also need to explain how it intends to balance border enforcement with Britain’s legal responsibilities towards refugees and asylum seekers.

This balance is particularly important because immigration policy involves complex international agreements and human rights obligations.

An approach that focuses exclusively on reducing arrivals could create legal challenges and undermine cooperation with other countries.

Equally, a system that fails to enforce its own rules risks damaging public confidence.

Burnham’s political future could therefore depend partly on whether he can demonstrate that Labour is capable of delivering a credible and sustainable immigration policy.

Conclusion: Immigration Could Become Labour’s Biggest Political Challenge

The latest polling controversy has highlighted the growing difficulties facing Andy Burnham as immigration continues to dominate Britain’s political agenda.

The small boats crisis, disagreements over cooperation with France and concerns about pressure on public services have created a difficult environment for the Labour government.

For Nigel Farage and Reform UK, the issue offers an opportunity to challenge Labour and present themselves as a tougher alternative.

For the Conservatives, it provides another chance to question the government’s credibility and highlight what they describe as failures in border management.

However, the real test for Labour will not simply be winning arguments with its political opponents. It will be demonstrating that its policies can produce practical improvements while respecting the law and protecting vulnerable people.

Immigration is likely to remain one of the defining political issues ahead of the next general election.

If Burnham cannot convince voters that the government has a clear strategy, the issue could become a significant electoral weakness for Labour.

The central challenge is now clear: Labour must demonstrate that it can secure Britain’s borders, tackle criminal smuggling networks and restore public confidence without abandoning the country’s legal and humanitarian responsibilities.