Sky News was halted for breaking news after Keir Starmer appeared at the opening of the international Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) summit. The Prime Minister, also joined by the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, will outline his approach to illegal immigration. Keir announced that UK state prosecutors will join European and international counterparts in efforts to tackle the surging Channel crossing crisis. This is after a record 6,632 migrants reached the UK this year, up from 4,600, which will be a major blow for Sir Keir.
The Prime Minister also summarised his approach in an article in the Daily Mail: “I know many of you are angry about illegal migration. You’re right to be. British people are compassionate and fair-minded.
“But we all pay the price for insecure borders – from the cost of accommodating migrants to the strain on our public services. It is a basic question of fairness.”
During his speech at the summit, he said, “Today, I am bringing together representatives from more than 40 countries in an unprecedented international effort. Nobody can doubt that the people we serve want this issue sorted. We can only smash the gangs if we work together.”
Keir arriving at the summit with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (Image: Getty)
He also used his speech to attack the Tories and their record on security and border controls through multiple brutal digs. He said, “As we work together more closely than ever before, we also have to take the tough measures at home in our own countries.
“That doesn’t mean gimmicks… it means understanding the problem and coming up with pragmatic solutions which work, actually fixing what is wrong.” Keir also warned that there were “gaps in our defence” when the Conservatives were in power.
He also added in his Daily Mail article, “France has said it wants to change its rules so law enforcement officers can deal with small boats in shallow waters.
“Germany will strengthen its laws against those who facilitate smuggling to the UK, so we can break into warehouses storing boat parts. A joint taskforce with Italy is hitting smugglers’ finances.”
