Nigel Farage tears apart Keir Starmer over migrant crisis | Politics | News
Nigel Farage has attacked Sir Keir Starmer over the migrant crisis, insisting it is “hard to believe a single word our Prime Minister says”. The Reform UK leader has taken aim at the Prime Minister’s plan to move asylum seekers from hotels to military barracks.
He underlined that the two allocated areas could accommodate 900 people; this is the number that crossed the English Channel on a single day when conditions were calm. Speaking on the Great Britain News programme, the Clacton MP said: “The government has a big new idea. All these young men crossing the channel will now be put up in military barracks because it will be cheaper than hotels.”
A clip was then played of Sir Keir saying: “We had years under the previous government where they didn’t process claims, so tens of thousands of people had their claims not processed, they were then put into hotels.
“That was the last government’s policy. At the peak there were 400 people, now there are around 200. “I’m determined to close these hotels, we’re processing claims much more quickly and where people don’t have the right to live in our country, we’re removing them at a rate higher than the best part of a decade.
“That’s why we’re taking action, but I can’t tell you how disappointed and angry I am that we’ve been left with such a huge mess by the last government.”
Mr Farage later said: “Yes, he caused a stir, there is absolutely no doubt about that.
“But around 60,000 people have crossed the Channel since he came to power. In fact, this year’s figures are on track for a record number, especially if we get two or three quiet weeks between now and Christmas.
“And when he tells you he’s reducing the number of hotels, there are 8% more people in these immigrant hotels than when he won the general election on July 4th last year.
“I’m sorry, it is very difficult to believe a word our Prime Minister says.
“As for returns, most of those sent home are people whose visas have expired. As for those who crossed the Channel, you can almost count on one hand.
“And when they claim this is a huge step forward, and there’s a site in East Sussex, a site in Inverness, these are military installations, they’re going to house 900 people, think about that. This is just a day’s passage on a calm day in the English Channel.”
Plans call for the men to be housed at Cameron Barracks in Inverness and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex.
