Andy Burnham criticizes Brexit’s impact on migrant crossings
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has lashed out at Brexit, claiming that leaving the European Union has hindered the government’s efforts to stop migrants from crossing the Channel in inflatable dinghies, reports BritPanorama.
His comments come in a week where he refused to dismiss the possibility of including a pledge to rejoin the EU in Labour’s next election manifesto, responding to questions at the United Nations. Ahead of Labour’s conference starting Sunday, Burnham stated he does not foresee an early election before 2029, asserting he can “knock dead” that prospect.
According to Burnham, the UK has faced a “loss of collaboration with neighbours” since completing Brexit. This week has been challenging for the Home Office, with over 700 individuals reaching the UK on Wednesday alone. Additionally, two vessels arrived undetected within two days.
Despite these incidents, overall crossing figures for this year stand at 18,609, which is 42% lower than the same period last year and 26% lower than at this point in 2024. In April, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had struck a three-year deal worth £662 million with France to address these challenges.
When asked about the ongoing crossings during a BBC South East interview, Burnham stated, “I do point to the loss of collaboration with neighbours that came with Brexit. That hasn’t helped.” He emphasized that the UK previously enjoyed a more cooperative system.
He noted, “We are not able to have the same levels of collaboration that we used to have, but I don’t put that forward as a reason why we won’t keep working until we get the crossings right down.” His goal remains to minimize crossings significantly; however, he refrained from committing to a specific timeline.
Burnham also highlighted the adaptive tactics of human-smuggling gangs, citing a recent incident where a craft carrying 51 migrants spent over 30 hours at sea after departing from Normandy, a location not typically associated with such crossings.
“They are changing their tactics, but we will be relentless in chasing them down,” he told BBC South East, asserting that the measures in place regarding small boats are effective and that law enforcement must adapt to the evolving situations.
On another topic, Burnham commented on recent protests against migrants, stating that attending a protest dressed in black with face coverings is “not the British way.” This follows the arrest of six individuals during anti-migrant demonstrations at a marina in Gosport, Hampshire.
During these protests, some participants wore dark clothing and face coverings, chanting “send them back.” Earlier in the month, masked individuals had blocked road access to the port in Dover.
Burnham acknowledged the public’s genuine concerns surrounding immigration but distanced the actions of certain protests from the views of the broader populace. “You don’t take it out on the police. You don’t attack the police,” he emphasized.
He added, “This is a different agenda. And it needs to be seen as such, and dealt with as such, but at the same time, addressing the genuine concern of people.” His conclusion was firm; he condemned the intimidation fostered by protesters wearing black and covering their faces, reinforcing his stance on maintaining a sense of safety within communities.
In defining the UK’s social values, he remarked, “People should be able to go about their lives, live in their communities without having a feeling of fear about people coming in to cause unrest and provocation.”
