Keir Starmer’s plan to end the Channel migrant crisis was thrown into chaos last night as dozens of his own MPs refused to back it.

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill passed its first hurdle by 333 votes to 109 – a majority of 224.

But voting records showed 74 Labour MPs refused to support the flagship legislation designed to smash the smuggling gangs.

Hours earlier, the plan was attacked by politicians from all sides.

Veteran Labour politician Diane Abbott asked Home Secretary Yvette Cooper if “she is trying to stigmatise desperate migrants”.

And Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill a “border surrender Bill”, which “creates a pathway to citizenship for people who have entered the country illegally”.

Former Home Secretary James Cleverly also accused Labour of creating a “blank cheque” for asylum seekers as the Government cannot deport migrants to countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Syria.

It comes as Ms Cooper confirmed smuggling gangs are forcing migrants to wait in the water for a boat to pick them up.

And the Home Secretary revealed asylum seekers on a small boat “refused rescue and remained on the boat” despite a seven-year-old girl being trampled to death.

Ms Abbott said: “This is a difficult time to speak up for a fair and ethical immigration policy, with the tides of far right politics sweeping Europe and maybe even lapping on the shores of this country.

“But does (Ms Cooper) accept that she has a danger of sounding like she is trying to stigmatise desperate migrants rather than building a fair system?”

Ms Cooper replied: “Immigration has always been an important part of the UK, but in order for that to be so, the rules need to be respected and enforced, and we cannot allow the criminal gangs to end up putting lives at risk in this way, or to undermine our border security.”

Labour frontbencher Ms Cooper has insisted “smashing the gangs” will end the migrant crisis, despite fears over a lack of a deterrent. Border Force and the National Crime Agency will also be given counter-terrorism style powers to go after the gangs.

Small boat arrivals face up to five years in prison if they refuse to be rescued in the Channel by the French authorities.

A new offence will be created to target those endangering another life during a crossing.

This means anyone fighting with French police on the beaches, holding children over the edge of a small boat or “rushing” vessels as they try to launch could all be prosecuted, with a maximum penalty of five years behind bars.

Making the case for the change, Ms Cooper told the Commons: “One such case was last April, when a seven year old girl died, but others on the boat refused rescue and remained on the boat to travel to the UK, even though people on that boat had died, even though many of them were complicit in the crushing and in putting lives at risk.

“We need to be able to take stronger action here in the UK. We need to be able to extradite people to return to France to face trial, but we also need powers here in the UK.”

Sara, seven, suffocated after being trampled on an overcrowded boat. She was among five who died in the tragedy in April 2024.

Criminals caught selling or handling small boat parts, such as engines or lifejackets, could also be jailed for up to 14 years.

The law changes are designed to replicate powers in the Terrorism Act 2006, so that preparing for a crossing and possession of equipment such as boats, engines and life jackets would be a criminal offence if the intention was to use them to take migrants across the Channel.

Explaining the proposal, Ms Cooper said: “We need to be able to extradite people to return to France to face trial, but we also need powers here in the UK.

“So that is why a new offence of endangering life at sea is being introduced to send a clear message that we will take action on those who are complicit in the loss of life, or risk to life at sea.

“Those involved in behaviour that puts others at risk of serious injury or death, such as physical aggression, intimidation, or rejecting rescue attempts, will face prosecution.”

Intervening, Labour MP Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) said: “The Prime Minister has formally promised to defend migrants and to develop a system based on compassion and dignity, and that can be resolved by looking at safe routes.

“People wouldn’t put their lives on the line and put themselves in danger if there were safe routes, so can the minister tell us what will be in this Bill that supports safe routes?”

Ms Cooper replied: “The purpose of this Bill is to pursue the criminal gangs who are undermining border security and who are putting lives at risk, because unless we do that, any other measure that we take in any direction will be undermined and will fail, because that is the way that the criminal gangs work.”