Veteran broadcaster asks PM about his pledge to ‘smash’ people smuggling gangs
Andrew Neil tore apart Sir Keir Starmer over his pledge to smash people smuggling gangs behind small boats. The veteran broadcaster asked the Prime Minister how many have been charged and convicted during his year in power.
He was responding to a post on X by Sir Keir who warned people smugglers he would “end your vile trade”. The PM said: “To the people smugglers leading hundreds of people to their death in the Channel: we will end your vile trade.”
Mr Neil replied: “You’ve been in power for just over a year now. How many people smugglers have been charged and convicted on your watch?”
Sir Keir has repeatedly pledged to “smash the gangs” who facilitate the dangerous journeys.
It comes as another 317 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday on what is a record year so far.
The crossings come after the PM signed a one in, one out returns deal with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at getting a grip on the issue.
Journalist Andrew Neil and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA/GETTY)
Under the pilot scheme, for each small boat migrant sent back across the English Channel an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.
No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the pilot, but reports from France have indicated it could initially be limited to about 50 a week – a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782.
Sir Keir described the agreement as “groundbreaking” at the joint press conference last week.
The returns scheme will be accompanied by a crackdown on illegal working in the UK as the Government attempts to address the “pull factors” encouraging people to make the dangerous journey from France.
