Well, well, well. How the tables turn. As our small boats woes continue, it seems as though it’s catching.

The EU is now being forced to beef up its response to illegal immigration as it’s been revealed that just one in five illegal immigrants given return orders are actually being sent anywhere at all. And now European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is starting to panic.

But it was revealed last week, their solution to the issue sounds eerily familiar. In a letter to the bloc’s leaders, ahead of a gathering in Brussels last week, Ms von der Leyen said they should consider the development of “return hubs outside the EU”.

It draws inspiration from the Italy-Albania protocol which will see up to 36,000 male migrants sent to two deportation centres in the north of the country – and, of course, is very similar to the now scrapped UK Rwanda policy.

So was Keir Starmer too hasty ditching our scheme on day one, with a simple stroke of his free-suited arm? 100 percent: yes he was.

More than 27,500 people have crossed the Channel in 2024 – and many of these will be granted asylum. It’s been revealed that more than 60,000 migrants – including many who’ve arrived on boats – will be granted asylum in the UK next year.

Under the UK’s Rwanda scheme – which even by Labour’s own admission has already cost £700m – any of those who made the crossing would have simply been detained and deported to the country.

Failing to enact this policy simply means yet more strain on the NHS, yet more strain on schools, yet more strain on other public services – all of which at the moment we can ill afford.

Let’s also not forget that the Rwanda scheme, despite only jetting a piddly four people to the country due to lefty lawyers blocking it, had already started to act as a deterrent.

When the scheme was still on the table, Ireland’s deputy prime minister Micheal Martin said the threat of being deported to Rwanda had caused an influx of migrants to cross the border from Northern Ireland into the Republic.

So what’s the deterrent now? Well… there isn’t one. Unless, that is, the evil gangs who are profiteering from all this are worried about Starmer’s empty threats – made repeatedly like a glitching robot – to “smash them”. Not likely.

I have said before and will say it again – immigration can be a great thing with the vast majority of those coming to this country working hard and contributing to society.

Every day there are those who have come to UK shores looking to start a new life, free from war and persecution and it’s absolutely our duty to help those in genuine need.

To that end we need to offer safe and legal routes, not a dodgy and dangerous back door letting in all and sundry – some not in need, some moved on from safe countries in the EU who simply want to chance their arm in Britain too and some – of course not all – linked to criminal carnage here.

At the time Starmer called the Rwanda policy “immoral” – but we must also remember the 50 people who have died trying to cross the English Channel in 2024.

As we hear the heartbreaking news that another innocent baby has died making the dangerous crossing, it’s time he realised it’s not only the most sensible and prudent policy, but also the compassionate one too.