The Prime Minister has pledged to “change tactics” to prevent migrants from illegally entering the UK, but do you think he will stick to his word?
The Prime Minister says he will ‘keep going at the issue’ until crossings completely stop (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has pledged to “change our tactics” to tackle Britain’s immigration crisis – but do you trust him to stick to his word? The Prime Minister said the Government would be “relentless” in chasing down the gangs who are facilitating the dangerous Channel crossings after a record 230 people made the journey in a single boat this week.
Arrivals have surged past 80,000 since Labour came to power in July 2024, amounting to one every 14 minutes, according to new data. Despite this, the overall number for 2026 has dropped compared to last year, with a provisional total of 15,242, down 42% on the same period in 2025.
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Mr Burnham said the Government “will keep going at this issue” until small boat crossings are stopped, but did not commit to a timeline.
He told GB News: “I’d rather promise to people what I know I can do and what I know I can deliver, and that is a relentless focus on this issue to deal with public concern.”
So what do you think? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments section.
The Conservatives have called on the PM to go further and leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent new arrivals from challenging their deportations, however.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told The Sun: “Open-borders Burnham has offered nothing but platitudes. He’s given zero indication he will do anything differently to Sir Keir Starmer‘s failed record on tackling illegal immigration.
“We will leave the ECHR, ban asylum claims from illegal entrants and deport illegal immigrants rapidly.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We’re cracking dow on these reckless and dangerous gangs. Small boat crossings are down significantly this year.”