Michelle Dewberry tells Labour MP the 'simple solution' for solving Britain's migrant crisis

She suggested working closely with the French authorities to intercept migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, arguing that coordinated action could dramatically reduce numbers almost overnight.

This comes after GB News exclusively revealed that the first small boat of 2026 has made it to UK shores after crossing the Channel in sub-zero temperatures.

Around three dozen illegal migrants reached the UK just days after it was revealed that 2025's total reached a staggering 41,427.

Speaking on The People's Channel, Michelle questioned: "Why don’t we make it clear to people: if you enter this country illegally, you breach the border and you won’t be considered for asylum. Full stop. Why don’t we have that?

Mr Gardiner said: "Because of international law. We actually helped create the Dublin Convention, which governs asylum claims.

"Without it, there would be no legal framework for anyone to claim asylum in the UK.

Former Director of Communications for Reform UK Gawain Towler said: "Asylum seekers and refugees, say 15, 20 years ago, how did they get here?"

Mr Gardiner explained: Back then, they didn’t come by boats. Some came in lorries.

"But even that was very rare. In the past decade, airlines have tightened up documentation rules, so international air travel without the right papers is no longer possible.

Michelle said: "And why don’t we cooperate with the French?

"Surely they want to stop this too. If migrants are coming through France to get here, it’s not in their best interest.

"Why don’t we cut a deal with them to push the boats back?

"If we did that, we could stop the surge almost overnight. Stop them arriving here, and the problem is solved.

Mr Gardiner responded: "It sounds simple, but it isn’t. Many of these people enter France from other countries. They aren’t coming directly from the UK.

"Even if you could push boats back, people would still try to come into Europe either as genuine asylum seekers or as economic migrants seeking a better life."

The first wave of arrivals puts more pressure on Sir Keir Starmer's Government to get a grip on the Channel crossing crisis.

Reform UK's Chief Whip Lee Anderson told GB News: "Is there any wonder that the illegal migrants will keep coming now this spineless treacherous Government is now looking at building social housing for illegal migrants who cross the Channel.

"This invasion is never going to end under this Government. The migrants will continue to arrive, our women and girls will continue to be attacked, our communities will continue to be under siege from backward cultures and the bill for all this will be footed by the decent, hardworking Brits."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp added: "These New Year illegal immigrants show the Government has no control of our borders whatsoever.

"They are putting up illegal immigrants in hotels and allowing 95 per cent of illegal Channel migrants to remain here.

"The Prime Minister has admitted that the UK has no deterrent. No wonder illegal immigrants continue to flood in - and many of them go on to commit sex offences against women and girls.

"The only way to fix this is the Conservative plan: come out of the ECHR and deport all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival. Then the crossings will stop."