Sky News interrupted their regular programming with a breaking news segment as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took the stage at the inaugural international Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) summit. Accompanied by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the Prime Minister laid out his blueprint to combat illegal immigration.
Starmer declared that Britain's state prosecutors will work hand in hand with European and international agencies to address the escalating crisis of Channel crossings. This coordination comes as figures show a record-breaking tally of 6,632 migrants arriving in the UK this year, a sharp increase from the previous figure of 4,600, casting a shadow over Sir Keir's tenure.
In an op-ed for the Daily Mail underscored by urgency, he wrote: "I know many of you are angry about illegal migration. You're right to be. British people are compassionate and fair-minded."
He rallied further support by mentioning, "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."
At the summit, he passionately stated, "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.", reports the Express.
Starmer did not hold back during his speech, taking several pointed jabs at the Conservative Party's track record on national security and border management, stating, "As we work together more closely than ever before, we also have to take the tough measures at home in our own countries."
Keir Starmer has made his stance clear regarding effective problem-solving, eschewing superficial approaches. He emphasised: "That doesn't mean gimmicks... it means understanding the problem and coming up with pragmatic solutions which work, actually fixing what is wrong."
Additionally, Starmer highlighted security lapses during the Tories' reign, mentioning "gaps in our defence".
In his piece for the Daily Mail, he also pointed out international efforts to tackle issues related to migration and smuggling. "France has said it wants to change its rules so law enforcement officers can deal with small boats in shallow waters."
he said.
Further elaborating on cross-border cooperation, Keir noted, "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."
