Home Office says illegal-working raids and arrests at record level – UK politics live | Politics
Good morning. British politics in 2026 is largely preoccupied with foreign affairs and Donald Trump’s turbocharged neo-imperialism, but domestic issues are still paramount. Like last night on PLP Pippa Crerar reports, Keir Starmer He tried to justify the time he spent on foreign policy by saying it was directly linked to cost-of-living issues.
As immigration and small boats are a major issue for voters, the Home Office is today setting out its record on one aspect of this issue.
Shabana MahmoodMinister of Internal Affairs was released figures He says this shows that raids to catch people working illegally in the UK have reached “the highest level in British history”. PA Media’s piece is slightly less exaggerated, saying the figures are the highest “since current records began in 2019.”
PA reports:
There were 12,791 visits to businesses such as nail salons, car washes, barbers and takeaway stores in 2025, an increase of 57% from 8,122 visits in the previous year.
Ministers are seeking to crack down on illegal work in the UK as part of efforts to deter those coming into the country illegally.
Meanwhile, arrests reached a record high of 8,971 last year, up nearly 59% compared to the previous high point of 5,647 in 2024, data published by the Home Office showed.
Of those arrested, 1,087 people have been deported from England so far…
The Home Office also said visits had increased by 77 per cent and arrests by 83 per cent since Labor came to power.
Between July 2024 and December last year, approximately 17,483 visits and 12,322 arrests were recorded; From January 2023 to June 2024, this number increased to 9,894 and 6,725 people, respectively.
Of those arrested, 1,726 people have been sent back so far; This was a 35% increase compared to the 1,283 people removed from visits in the previous 18-month period.
In a related move, the Home Office is launching a Secure Borders UK TikTok account designed to deter people from coming to the UK illegally on small boats. There are some examples of the video to be published in The Sun (apparently mostly people being detained) and don’t write is negative and cynical. “‘Pathetic’ Prime Minister’s ‘ridiculous’ brainwave of anger over stopping Channel migrant boats has been revealed to be a new TIKTOK ACCOUNT” sets the tone. But public opinion will not turn around overnight and there may be some cheering in Labor circles this morning. Latest YouGov poll The Times and Sky News show support for Reform UK is at its lowest level since April.
There will be more domestic politics day by day. Here is the agenda of the day.
8.30: Health Minister Wes Streeting speaks Institute of Government annual conference. Other speakers on the day include: Louise Casey, chair of the independent commission into adult welfare cases, at 9.40am; Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and former Tory cabinet minister Michael Gove at 11.45am; Prime Minister’s principal secretary, Darren Jones, at 14.45; and shadow chancellor Mel Stride at 4.30pm.
9.30: Keir Starmer chair cabinet. There is the political cabinet and the regular cabinet.
9.30: Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth holds a press conference in Cardiff
10 am: Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey holds a press conference to introduce his plan to end 12-hour A&E waits. He will then visit the London Air Ambulance.
11am: Starmer hosts Polish President Karol Nawrocki at number 10.
11.30: Streeting takes questions in the House of Commons.
Afternoon: A lobby briefing is being held in Downing Street.
14.20: Shona Robison, the Scottish government’s finance minister, presents her budget to MSPs.
14.30: Bar Council president Kirsty Brimelow and other senior legal figures give evidence to the House of Commons justice committee about plans to restrict jury trials; Minister of Justice Sarah Sackman testifies at 15.30.
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