Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has launched a scathing attack on Labour’s approach to migration, calling their decision to cancel the Rwanda scheme “a massive mistake”.
Speaking to GB News, Philp claimed 2025 has been “the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel”.
The comments come after The People’s Channel revealed that the UK is expected to cross the threshold of 10,000 illegal migrants arriving since January later today.
The warm weather forecast this week, with temperatures reaching around 27C on Thursday, is likely to increase crossings further.
Chris Philp blasted the government for its “serious mistake”
GB NEWS
Speaking to GB News, Chris Philp said: “I do welcome attempts to get migration down. The figures have been far, far too high for a number of years.
“Conservatives in government, towards the end of our time, announced measures that have already brought legal migration down significantly for example, increasing all the salary thresholds, and preventing students and people working in the social care sector from bringing family members over with them.
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“There was actually a further measure we announced: to raise the salary threshold for bringing over a family member even further, up to £38,000.
“That change was due to come into force on the April 1, so about three or four weeks ago. But Labour have suspended it.
“I think Labour made a terrible mistake by doing that. If immigrants are going to bring family members over, that should only happen in limited circumstances where they can afford to look after those family members.
“I believe you do need to earn £38,000 to ensure that’s possible. So Labour made a massive mistake by suspending that move. If they’re serious about reducing immigration, they should adopt that Conservative measure.”
When challenged by host Ellie Costello about Labour blaming their “dire inheritance” from the Conservatives, Philp dismissed this as “total nonsense”.
He insisted that without a deterrent, “the numbers are worse than ever”.
Labour is preparing to unveil a new plan to cut legal migration following Thursday’s local elections, with a white paper expected before May 19.
Labour is preparing to unveil a new plan to cut legal migration
PA
A Home Office source told The Telegraph: “We’ve made a really strong commitment that the Home Secretary wants to reduce net migration. We will use the immigration white paper as a tool for that.”
The paper will reportedly target a loophole allowing foreign students to remain in the UK on graduate visas before taking low-paid jobs in the “gig economy” or care sector.
The move comes as Labour braces for a potential surge in support for Reform UK across the country in the upcoming local elections.
