Home secretary issues warning amid failure to tackle migrant crisis
The Minister of Internal Affairs warned that the public’s trust in politicians is eroding due to the failure to control the migrant crisis.
Shabana Mahmood will issue the warning as she hosts her counterparts from the Western Balkans as well as other European allies in London.
He will insist that only through international cooperation can Britain stop the flow of migrants arriving on small boats.
The aim of the summit is to enable European countries to make new agreements to combat illegal immigration.
At the meeting, the interior minister will say: “People rightly expect their government to be able to decide who should enter and who should leave their country.
“I know that is not the case today in this country and in most if not all of you.
“And failure to bring order to our borders erodes not only trust in us as political leaders, but also trust in the credibility of the state itself.”
He is also expected to harshly criticize the government’s political opponents, such as Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, accusing them of wanting to “turn inward” and seek solutions to immigration without the help of other countries.
“Illegal immigration is a common threat that requires a strong and concerted international response,” Ms. Mahmood said.
He will continue: “To those who think that the answer to the challenges we face is to turn inward or move away from international cooperation, I say this: by coming together as we do today, we will make all our borders and countries stronger.
“I am proud that the UK is leading the charge in a coordinated response to combat organized crime and defeat vile human trafficking gangs who put the value of human life behind their own profits.”
The Western Balkans, which includes the countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, have become increasingly important in the fight against illegal migration across Europe.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the region is becoming an important transit route for cross-border drug smugglers as well as human traffickers.
The government ministry said around 22,000 people were kidnapped by gangs through the Western Balkans in 2024.
The summit is also expected to include discussions on how to crack down on gangs, including new cooperation between UK, European and border police forces across the region.
At the afternoon meeting, which will be attended by National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar, a session on combating violence against women and girls will be held, as well as discussing efforts to disrupt the supply chains of gangs.
Conservatives said Ms Mahmood’s warning was “rich from a government that has lost control of our borders”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp added: “The first nine months of this year have been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel.
“The government is housing more illegal immigrants in hotels than before the elections, and returned only 26 to France at a time when 14,000 arrived.
“This is clearly not a deterrent.
“The Conservatives will leave the ECHR, which will allow us to remove all illegal immigrants within a week of their arrival.
“Then the crossings will soon stop.”
