Minister Serves Up Timely Reminder Of Just How Effective The Tories' Efforts To Deter Migration Were

Minister Angela Eagle on BBC BreakfastA minister hit a BBC presenter with a stark reminder of just how poorly the Tories dealt with so-called illegal migration this morning as she defended Labour’s approach to Channel crossings.Border security minister Angela Eagle spoke to broadcasters today after more anti-immigration protests broke out across the UK over the weekend.Tory shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said he “respects and understands” those demonstrators, claiming the public’s patience with the government’s response “has snapped”.But Eagle reassured BBC Breakfast viewers that Labour is taking action and pledging to put an extra £100 million into tackling the issue.However, presenter Jon Kay pointed out 25,000 migrants crossed the Channel last week, a record number.He suggested critics have called for Labour to have a stronger deterrent in place, “maybe something like the Rwanda scheme which might put people off coming across the Channel”.The Tories tried to set up a programme to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda when they were in government, but they were repeatedly hit with legal delays – and Labour scrapped it altogether when they were elected.Eagle told Kay: “The Rwanda scheme didn’t deter anybody from coming over.“The then-government said even mooting [the idea], even saying ‘we’re going to do this’, would stop people coming across – 84,000 people came across the Channel while the Rwanda scheme was in law.“It is not, and was not, a deterrent.“We spent £700 million to send four volunteers to Rwanda. I don’t call that a deterrent, and I don’t call that a positive policy. It did work.”Kay pointed out numbers have gone up since Labour cancelled the scheme, to which the minister said: “There is no easy one step solution to this. It is a complex problem, it has been allowed to take hold of our borders for six years.“We are now using intelligence, diplomatic agreements, cross-government, cross -jurisdiction agreements to deal with what is a vile trade in human beings and exploitation.”Jon Kay: The Rwanda scheme might have put people off coming across the Channel? Angela Eagle: "Well, it didn't.. the Rwanda scheme didn't deter anybody... 84k people came across the Channel while the Rwanda scheme was the law.. It is not & was not a deterrent.." #BBCBreakfastpic.twitter.com/QFQYjzjxkC— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) August 4, 2025Related...Chris Philp Dismissed Starmer's Migrant Deal As A 'Gimmick'. Then He Was Reminded About RwandaTrevor Phillips Skewers Senior Tory With 1 Killer Fact About The Rwanda SchemeTories Planned To Spend £10bn On Rwanda Scheme, Yvette Cooper Claims

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