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Sir Keir Starmer has said 24,000 people who “have no right to be here” have been returned since Labour took power as he opened the government’s border security summit.

The prime minister said it was the “highest return rate for eight years”.

Politics latest: UK has been ‘soft touch on migration’, says Starmer

Since Labour took office last July, 29,884 people have been detected crossing the Channel on 542 small boats.

A total of 6,642 people crossed between 1 January to 30 March this year – a 43% increase on the same time last year, when the Conservatives were in power.

Crossings this year passed 5,000 on 21 March, a record compared with the previous seven years since the first crossings in 2018 – and 24% higher than 2024, and 36% higher than 2023.

Interior ministers and law enforcement from more than 40 countries, including the US, Iraq, Vietnam and France, are at the summit at Lancaster House in central London.

Meta, X and TikTok representatives are also there to discuss how to tackle the online promotion of illegal migration.

Sir Keir told the gathering he was “angry” about the scale of illegal immigration around the world as he said it was a “massive driver of global insecurity”.

“The truth is, we can only smash these gangs once and for all if we work together,” he said.

“Because this evil trade, it exploits the cracks between our institutions. It pits nations against one another. It profits from our inability at the political level to come together.”

He said people smuggling should be treated as a global security threat similar to terrorism.

“None of these strategies, as you know, are a silver bullet. I know that,” he told the summit.

“But each of them is another tool, an arsenal that we’re building up to smash the gangs once and for all.”

Analysis: Stop the boats, stop Reform UK


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Mhari Aurora

Political correspondent

@MhariAurora

In a speech at the organised immigration crime summit, Sir Keir Starmer pointedly told global delegates there is nothing progressive or compassionate about turning a blind eye to people smuggling.

This is as much a direct challenge to other nations as it is to those in his party who may be uncomfortable with talk of cracking down on illegal migration and making it harder to claim asylum in the UK.

In an effort to front up to the problem, the PM and home secretary both outlined the deep complexities involved in stopping the boats; interrupting supply chains, financial sanctions on gangs and blocking social media content advertising routes to the UK.

Labour’s message? Bear with us, this is harder than it looks.

But, with public patience wearing dangerously thin on small boats crossings after endless promises from Labour and the Conservatives, and with record numbers crossing the Channel – a 43% rise on this time last year – the prime minister knows he has very little time to persuade the public he can deliver.

Senior government sources tell me they are far more worried about Reform UK denting their vote share than they are about the Conservatives – and the PM’s message today indicates just that.

In his speech, Sir Keir twice cited what he called the unfairness of illegal migration: driving down working people’s wages, terms and conditions, and putting valuable public services under strain.

This shift in tone, directly juxtaposing working people with migrants, feels like a subtle yet significant tilt to voters who may be tempted by Nigel Farage’s rhetoric on migration.

However, we may begin to see some Labour MPs fidgeting in their seats as it is sure to make some of them a little uncomfortable.

Sir Keir appears to be marching up the hill the Tories died on. So will this all too familiar hike prove fatal, or will he succeed where Rishi Sunak failed?

And if Sir Keir does succeed and manages to make a significant dent in the number of small boat crossings before the next general election, Reform may not prove to be as lethal an opponent as first thought.

UK has been a ‘soft touch on migration’

The prime minister criticised the previous Conservative government for allowing illegal migration to soar, saying: “For too long the UK has been a soft touch on migration.”

He said a lack of co-ordination between the police and intelligence agencies had been an “open invitation” for people smugglers to send migrants to the UK.

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Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit.
Pic: PA
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Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper at the summit. Pic: PA

Cooper reveals small boats gang tactics

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also spoke at the event, where she revealed some of the horrifying tactics used by gangs smuggling people over to the UK in small boats.

She said they place women and children in the middle of the flimsy rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), and when they collapse due to overcrowding, they fold in and crush them.

“All of your countries will have different stories of the way in which the gangs are exploiting people into sexual exploitation, into slave labour, into crime, the way in which the gangs are using new technology,” she said.

She said they were not just using phones and social media to organise crossings, but also drones to spot border patrols.

“It is governments and not gangs who should be deciding who enters our country,” she said.

Sir Keir also hosted a roundtable discussion joined by border security and asylum minister Dame Angela Eagle, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt and Home Office, Border Force and National Crime Agency officials.

Keir Starmer leads a roundtable discussion at the Border Security Summit.
Pic: Reuters
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The PM led a roundtable discussion with UK law enforcement and ministers. Pic: Reuters

Ministers ‘disappointed’ in small boat numbers

Before the summit, Dame Angela told Wilfred Frost on Sky News Breakfast ministers were “disappointed” in the number of small boat crossings in recent months.

She said one reason was more people were being packed into each boat. She also said smuggler gangs have been allowed to grow “very sophisticated” global networks over many years.

Earlier, Ms Cooper announced £30m funding for “high impact operations” by the Border Security Command (BSC) to tackle supply chains, illicit finances and trafficking routes across Europe, the Western Balkans, Asia and Africa.

An additional £3m will be given to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to increase its capacity to prosecute organised international smugglers and to support the BSC to pursue and arrest those responsible for people smuggling operations.

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Wes Streeting rules out pay rises for striking resident doctors saying they have ‘squandered goodwill’

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Wes Streeting rules out pay rises for striking resident doctors saying they have 'squandered goodwill'

Resident doctors have “squandered the considerable goodwill” they had with the government by going on strike, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told them.

The medics – formerly known as junior doctors – finished a five-day strike over pay on Wednesday morning. The group were awarded a close to 30% raise last year but say they want more in an attempt to bring their pay back in line with what they had in 2008.

Mr Streeting previously said he would not negotiate further on pay but would consider taking steps on working conditions.

He has reiterated that stance – and continued to put pressure on negotiations to start again on the government’s terms.

The British Medical Association Resident Doctors Committee, which represents the doctors, have not ruled out further action.

In a letter sent today to the co-chairs of the committee, Mr Streeting thanked them for an invitation to “get back to the negotiating table” – but added the barb that it was “ironic because I never left”.

“I am ready to continue the conversation from where you left it,” he added.

More on Strikes

He went on to say the strikes were “deeply disappointing and entirely unnecessary” – adding that there were “seemingly promising discussions” about improving doctors’ working lives.

Read more:
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‘No doctor wants to go out on strike’

‘We cannot move on pay’

Mr Streeting criticised the committee, saying they “rushed to strike”.

His letter added: “The consequences of your strike action have been a detrimental impact on patients, your members, your colleagues and the NHS, which might have been worse were it not for the considerable efforts of NHS leaders and front-line staff who stepped up.

“Your action has also been self-defeating, because you have squandered the considerable goodwill you had with me and this government. I cannot in good conscience let patients, or other NHS staff, pay the price for the costs of your decision.”

The health secretary said he wanted to “reset the relationship” between the government and young doctors following the previous industrial action.

Mr Streeting went on to say he is “serious about improving working conditions” but has been clear “we cannot move on pay”.

“This government is prepared to negotiate on areas related to your conditions at work, career progression and tangible measures which would put money in your members’ pockets,” he added.

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Mr Streeting concluded: “I was critical of my predecessors when they closed the door to the Junior Doctors Committee.

“My door remains open to the hope that we can still build the partnership with resident doctors I aspired to when I came in a year ago and, in that spirit, I am happy to meet with you early next week.”

A BMA spokesperson said: “The resident doctors committee has received the letter from Mr Streeting and is considering its response.”

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Companies who pay suppliers late to be fined

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Companies who pay suppliers late to be fined

Companies which continually pay their suppliers late will face fines worth potentially millions of pounds, the prime minister has announced.

Sir Keir Starmer said “It’s time to pay up” as the government is set to unveil plans to give the small business commissioner powers to fine large companies that persistently pay their suppliers late.

Under the new legislation, businesses will have to pay their suppliers within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice, unless otherwise agreed, with spot checks to help identify breaches.

Maximum payment terms of 60 days, reducing to 45 days, will also be introduced as part of the legislation to ensure businesses are paid on time.

Late payments cost the UK economy £11 billion a year and shut down 38 businesses a day, the government said.

The new law will save small and medium businesses time so they can focus on growing their revenue, it added.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the launch of the 10-year health plan in east London. Pic: PA
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves and PM Sir Keir Starmer. Pic: PA

Sir Keir said: “From builders and electricians to freelance designers and manufacturers – too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best – growing their businesses.

More on Sir Keir Starmer

“It’s unfair, it’s exhausting, and it’s holding Britain back. So, our message is clear: it’s time to pay up.

“Through our Small Business Plan, we’re not only tackling the scourge of late payments once and for all, but we’re giving small business owners the backing and stability they need for their business to thrive, driving growth across the country through our Plan for Change.”

The late payment crackdown is part of a wider government package, including a move to pump £4bn of financial support into small business start-ups and growth.

This will include £1bn for new firms, with 69,000 start-up loans and mentoring support.

Read more:
Sainsbury’s blames Visa card issues for online payment failure
Streeting rules out pay rises for striking doctors

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The value of ‘de minimis’ imports into Britain

The Conservatives said the crackdown will be welcome, but fails to address the “218,000 businesses that have closed under Labour”.

Andrew Griffith, the Tory shadow business secretary, added: “The reality for businesses under Labour is a doubling of business rates, a £25billion jobs tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape.

“Only the Conservatives are on the side of the makers and will support businesses across Britain to create jobs and wealth.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has increased employers’ national insurance, raised the minimum wage and lowered the threshold at which employers’ national insurance is paid.

The Resolution Foundation said this hits the cost of low-paid and part-time workers the most.

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How is Starmer’s government doing? Here’s what ‘end-of-term’ report from voters says

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How is Starmer's government doing? Here's what 'end-of-term' report from voters says

One year on, how’s Keir Starmer’s government going? We’ve put together an end-of-term report with the help of pollster YouGov.

First, here are the government’s approval ratings – drifting downwards.

It didn’t start particularly high. There has never been a honeymoon.

But here is the big change. Last year’s Labour voters now disapprove of their own government. That wasn’t true at the start – but is now.

And remember, it’s easier to keep your existing voter coalition together than to get new ones from elsewhere.

So we have looked at where voters who backed Labour last year have gone now.

YouGov’s last mega poll shows half of Labour voters last year – 51% – say they would vote for them again if an election was held tomorrow.

Around one in five (19%) say they don’t know who they’d vote for – or wouldn’t vote.

But Labour are also leaking votes to the Lib Dems, Greens and Reform.

These are the main reasons why.

A sense that Labour haven’t delivered on their promises is top – just above the cost of living. Some 22% say they’ve been too right-wing, with a similar number saying Labour have “made no difference”. Immigration and public services are also up there.

Now, YouGov asked people whether they think the cabinet is doing a good or a bad job, and combined the two figures together to get a net score.

John Healey and Bridget Phillipson are on top, but the big beats of Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves bottom.

But it’s not over for Labour.

Here’s one scenario – 2024 Labour voters say they would much prefer a Labour-led government over a Conservative one.

But what about a Reform UK-led government? Well, Labour polls even better against them – just 11% of people who voted Labour in 2024 want to see them enter Number 10.

Signs of hope for Keir Starmer. But as Labour MPs head off for their summer holidays, few of their voters would give this government an A*.

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