Yvette Cooper responds to the announcement that 5,000 people have crossed the channel this year

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s, Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the announcement that 5,000 people have crossed the channel this year, said: 

“These figures show the full scale of the Tory failure to get any grip on Channel crossings. They’ve failed to tackle the criminal gangs or sort out the chaos in the asylum system. All they offer is rhetoric and gimmicks instead of any kind of serious plan. No surprise that Rishi Sunak is rowing back on his promise to stop the boats this year.

 “Labour has a plan to tackle dangerous boat crossings that are undermining border security and putting lives at risk: crack down on people smuggler gangs, returns agreements with Europe, and reform resettlement schemes and support for people in the region.”