Reform UK leader asks the Prime Minister about the Channel migrant crisis in the Commons
PMQs: Nigel Farage warns of ‘national security emergency’
Nigel Farage called on Andy Burnham to declare a “national security emergency” over the small boats crisis at PMQs. The Reform UK leader raised fears over “young, unidentified males” from Iran making the Channel crossing who may “pose a genuine security threat to our nation”.
Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Mr Farage said: “MI5 boss Sir Ken McCallum yesterday revealed that there have been 50 arrests in the last year linked to Iran. And I have to say this Government deserves praise for proscribing the IRGC, a very important move.
Nigel Farage asks his question at PMQs (Image: BBC)
“But every week there are young, unidentified males from Iran coming into this country, some of whom pose a genuine security threat to our nation.
“Is it not time the Government recognises that what is going on in the English Channel is a national security emergency?”
The Prime Minister replied: “Obviously we’ve seen the issues at RAF Fairford recently and they have been dealt with in the right way with the utmost seriousness by the police and security service.
“The key point is of course we do need to get boat crossings down.
“I hope he would recognise that they are coming down, removals are up. There is much more to be done but there is clearly progress in the right direction.”
It comes as more than 20,000 people have made the journey from France in rubber dinghies so far this year.
The head of MI5 said yesterday that more than 50 people have been arrested in “Iran-linked operations” in the past year in the UK, which has seen a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London, and an alleged terror plot by two Iranian men on a synagogue in Manchester.