'Her incompetence on this issue is dangerous': Home sec's handling of migrant crisis attacked by Labour

Labour has accused Priti Patel of “comprehensively failing” on the issue of migrant crossings in the Channel after a record number of people arrived on British shores in small boats last week.

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday that his counterpart’s “incompetence on this issue is dangerous”.

But Health Secretary Sajid Javid defended the home secretary’s work on immigration – despite the surge in the number of crossings – telling Sky News the government has “a great track record” of providing security protection to “those people who are genuinely fleeing persecution”.

Mr Javid added: “We do have to ask ourselves, if people are trying to get into the UK from safe countries like France, are they genuine asylum seekers or not?

“And it is right to ask that and it is right to change the rules to take that into account, and that is what the home secretary is doing.”

Last Thursday, 1,185 individuals arrived in the UK – a new record for a single day in the current crisis – with a total of more than 24,700 people having reached the island using small boats to cross the Channel so far this year, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.

The government has announced that a review will look at how to stop migrants crossing the English Channel and entering the UK amid concern that current measures are not working.

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Downing Street has tasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Stephen Barclay with bringing departments together to find a solution.

Mr Thomas-Symonds told Sky News a Labour government would reintroduce deals with other countries to relocate migrants back to the first safe country they arrived in.

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One former head of the Border Force, Tony Smith, told Sky News the government was very reliant on France to stop crossings.

“If the French won’t intervene at sea or take returns, I don’t think there is much room for manoeuvre,” Mr Smith said.

“Returning to other source and transit countries may be an option but we will need readmission agreements.”

One option being considered would involve opening processing centres in third countries where migrants would be taken while their asylum claims are looked at.

The Times newspaper reported on Thursday that the UK was in talks with Albania over locating facilities in the country.

That was angrily rejected by the Albanian ambassador to London, who said such centres would violate international law.

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In July, Home Secretary Priti Patel signed a £54m deal with France to tackle crossings but UK sources admit that policing more than 90 miles of coastline is difficult.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk and it is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.

“People should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, and as part of our response it is important we have a maritime deterrent in the channel and work with international partners to put an end to these dangerous journeys.”

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