'Put it to rest!' Labour minister shut down by GB News host after claiming UK-France deal has stopped '42,000 illegal migrants'

Georgia Pearce
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:50:50 +0000

Watch the moment GB News host Mark White brutally shuts down a Labour minister after claiming the UK-France illegal migrant deal has stopped "42,000" people crossing the Channel.

Speaking to GB News Breakfast, Peter Kyle was questioned on whether the Labour Government could use the millions of pounds intended to pay France to "reduce the cost of living" instead.

Mr Kyle told the People's Channel: "Well, the deal that was struck with the French has stopped 42,000 people making that crossing."

Mark immediately challenged the Labour MP, telling him: "It really hasn't, Mr Kyle. Can we just put this one to rest? It's not stopped 42,000 people, because the vast majority of people coming across the English Channel that are turned around are then included in that figure.

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"It's a minute proportion of that that are actually stopped on the beaches by the money we're paying for the security from.

"The rest are all people who have suffered engine failure halfway across, the boats are too over crowded, or the wind and waves are too much for the boat, so they get picked up by the French patrols in French waters."

Remaining adamant the UK-French deal did stop people crossing the Channel, Mr Kyle responded: "Well, as I was saying, the investment that we've done in the deal that we have done has prevented people crossing the Channel. But is there more to do? Yes, there is.

"And that's why you see this moment in time Shabana Mahmood negotiating, engaged in discussions with the French to improve the deal."

Defending Ms Mahmood further, Mr Kyle told GB News she is implementing "fundamental reforms" of the asylum system and "tackling incentives" for illegal migrants wanting to come to Britain.

He explained: "She's working with the French, of course, and other countries, because these people who are crossing the Channel are doing so from other countries, and therefore engaging in those countries and making sure that we can tackle the challenges at root is very, very important.

"We've extended the programme by two months, and we're using that period to negotiate a better deal. Shabana Mahmood is out there fighting for Britain, fighting for a better system of asylum.

"We know we have to stop the trafficking of people, because people making that journey are putting their lives at risk and often putting children's lives at risk, and we need to stop this horrid business."

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Hitting back at the Labour minister, Mark pushed Mr Kyle on why Britain is "paying the French to incentivise them to do the job that they are responsible for doing anyway".

Mr Kyle responded: "We are partnering with the French in order to stop a horrific situation which has impacted Britain. This is a shared challenge between France and Britain, because the challenge makes its way across the waters.

"And of course, because of the previous administration, the Tories, we have tens of thousands of people being housed in hotels, which we are trying to end. So this is a shared challenge and we need to share the burden of it."

Ensuring Labour wants taxpayer money to be "spent wisely" on tackling the crisis, he added: "Shabana Mahmood is out there negotiating for increased activity with the French, more effective activity with the French, so that we can get a grip on a situation that was got out of control under the previous Tory administration.

"She is acting with boldness and she is acting with urgency in order to get a grip on a situation that has failed the previous administration, and we are determined to end."

Following the emergency extension of the France-UK deal, the Home Secretary said: "Our work with France has stopped 42,000 attempts by illegal migrants to make the journey across the Channel.

“While we finalise a new and improved UK-France deal, French law enforcement operations to stop illegal migrants in France will continue.

“I will do whatever it takes to restore order and control at our borders.”