Sunak's migration policy is 'gimmicky headline chasing' says Shadow Immigration Minister

10 March 2023, 12:57

'We don't need new laws to stop small boats' says Labour frontbencher

By Alice Bourne

Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock branded the governments new migration policy as "gimmicky headline chasing" that is "about throwing red meat to Tory backbenchers rather than actually solving the problem."

Stephen Kinnock the Shadow Immigration Minister told Nick Ferrari that we actually 'don't need more legislation to stop small boats' and consequently the government's migration policy is just a weak attempt to chase headlines and please the right-wing contingent of its party.

Nick Ferrari asked Mr Kinnock: "Now that some of the dust has settled what’s your take on some of the policies outlined by Suella Braverman earlier this week?."

The Shadow Immigration Minister responded bluntly: "It won’t work, it's recycling some of the rhetoric and inflammatory language" they used last year in order to "throw red meat to tory back benchers." He suggested that they have decided to energise their tory base through the issue of immigration "rather than actually solve the problem" of small boats.

His comments come as Rishi Sunak is attending an Anglo-French summit in Paris where he is set to discuss a deal with Macron on stopping the channel crossings.

Read More: Rishi Sunak meets Emmanuel Macron ahead of 'multi-million pound deal' to help block migrant Channel crossings

Read More: Gary Lineker needs to study the history books, Foreign Secretary says after football pundit's criticism of migrant plan

The Paris summit comes after Mr Sunak, earlier this week, outlined his plans to deter people from making illegal crossings into the UK. These plans involved a 28 day detention period followed by exportation, without the possibility of claiming asylum. Those arriving on UK beaches would either be returned to their home country, or another country such as Rwanda.

Stephen Kinnock revealed in his interview: "You don’t actually need more legislation to get more recourses into our national crime agency so they can crack down on the gangs." Neither, he said, do you need legislation to, "rewire the home office" to "deal with the back log."

The labour front bencher elaborated on the needlessness of the policy: "Getting the returns deal with France is about quiet diplomacy and authorised routes" and about trying to get "the Afghanistan route actually working."

These other measures he said, "are not headline chasing gimmicky things that might get everyone excited for a few days, these are actually the quiet hard yard nitty gritty of government."

Read More: Andrew Marr: Lets focus more on the UK's broken childcare system and less on Gary Lineker

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector

Nick Ferrari.

'He'll look over his shoulder for the rest of his life': Concern for Martyn Blake's privacy long overdue

Exclusive
'No one gutsy enough to address this': Mylene Klass calls on government to introduce paid miscarriage leave.

Government not 'gutsy' enough to implement paid miscarriage leave claims Myleene Klass

Exclusive
David Cameron speaks to LBC

David Cameron calls for UK to sanction two Israeli ministers as change on arms embargo 'didn't satisfy anybody'

'I wouldn't do it again': Jenrick suggests regret for painting over murals at children’s asylum centre.

'I wouldn't do it again': Robert Jenrick says he regrets ordering workers to paint over murals at children’s asylum centre

Exclusive
Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye

Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye