The prime minister remains under pressure to tackle the ongoing small boats crisis.
GB News was interrupted for a breaking announcement on the ongoing migrant crisis, with the latest development potentially causing fresh problems for Andy Burnham. Mark White shared news that a third dinghy carrying illegal migrants has entered the UK undetected. He said: “Breaking news now. GB News believes another migrant dinghy may have made it to UK waters last night undetected.”
Ellie Costello reported: “While the migrant vessel was eventually spotted by a coastguard aircraft at around 9pm and lifeboats then scrambled to pick up the occupants, it’s unclear why French authorities failed to spot the boat in the water, but it does follow two undetected beach landings on the Kent coast Monday and Tuesday of this week.” An image was then shown on screen of a map, with a coastguard aircraft appearing to circle over the English Channel near the UK coast.
Andy Burnham is under pressure to tackle the immigration crisis in the UK (Image: Getty)
Mark added that two lifeboats and a border security command vessel “rushed to the scene”.
Discussing the latest developments was political commentator Scarlett McGwire, who explained the intricacies of small boat smuggling operations and how smugglers can change their tactics when they believe the government is beginning to crack down on them.
“The thing about these traffickers is they are very rich and they are utterly ruthless, and they are absolutely determined to see it through,” the former Labour adviser said.
“Nobody quite understands what is going on, but the good news is we have nearly halved it. It is beginning to work!”
Mark clarified that this was likely temporary because the smugglers were adjusting to a new strategy.
“There’s no question that they will move. These traffickers make a fortune,” Scarlett declared.
Commentator Will Kingston was quick to take a swipe at the government, saying: “When I hear the Labour talking point that the boat numbers have halved, it does remind me of that football manager who’s happy with a 6-1 flogging because they beat them 8-0 the season before.
“The numbers are still atrociously bad and represent a real threat to the country.”
Will admitted to agreeing with Scarlett that people smugglers are running a canny operation, describing it as a “very lucrative” but “evil” business.
The TV presenter went on to argue that agreements with France and other measures will not solve the small boats crisis unless the government stops providing incentives for migrants to come to the UK.
“It means that no amount of deals with the French or measures are going to solve the problem. You have to stop the incentive to come to this country,” Will remarked.
“That’s the only way that you’ll come to terms with it. That means stopping things like providing accommodation, food, and charity giveaways that make it appealing for an illegal migrant to come to this country.
He added: “Until you do that, they will just find alternative ways to come.”