“Shabana Mahmood has paid half a billion pounds of our money unconditionally, yet I saw gendarmes doing nothing today and they told me they had orders to take no physical action but just talk to the migrants,” said Philp.
Philp argued that environmental factors had been the primary impediment to crossings earlier in the year.
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“The only thing protecting our borders has been the rough weather in the Channel this year,” said Philp.
The shadow cabinet member called for immediate legislative changes regarding European human rights regulations.
“Andy Burnham just said there was no problem. I saw with my own eyes today how out of touch he is,” said Philp.
Opposition figures demanded swift deportation capabilities to deter future transit attempts across the Channel.
“We need a proper plan to end these crossings – leave the ECHR which would enable us to deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival.
Then they wouldn’t bother attempting the crossing,” said Philp.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the government’s strategy during remarks on Wednesday, emphasizing long-term trends over single-day spikes.
“The Home Secretary has brought forward a very vigorous plan in relation to this. And let’s remember of course the numbers can fluctuate,” said Burnham.
Burnham pointed to year-on-year statistical decreases as evidence that enforcement measures are impacting illegal routes.
“But overall boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year-on-year, so that does suggest that the plan is working,” said Burnham.
