Labour paying £40 MILLION in 'ransom payments' for illegal migrants to leave Britain

The criticism comes after a new report found evidence Labour has spent more money on Voluntary Assisted Returns (VARS) than on physical deportations.

The scheme provides travel, housing and financial support to illegal migrants, helping them return home.

The Home Office spending was uncovered in research carried out for GB News by the Centre for Migration Control (CMC).

Of the money spent, £37,779,583 was paid out for 11,817 Voluntary Assisted Returns (VARS) between July 2024 and September 2025, at a cost of £3,197 per return.

In response, Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, said: "We are still not deporting enough people from Britain, and much more needs to be done.

"These figures show that the Labour Government has decided to throw money at the problem rather than look to seriously increase enforced and controlled returns."

"The creation of a hostile environment for illegal migrants is essential so that more individuals choose to pay for their own plane ticket, and ministers should be seeking compensation from countries of origin, so the British taxpayer is not left out of pocket."

Mr Bates fumed: "The Government is not telling the truth when it says it has 'deported or removed' 50,000 individuals from Britain.

"Nearly half of those left without the Home Office playing any real role in their departure."

Since Labour took office, just 25 per cent of returns from the UK were physical deportations, with 26 per cent being Voluntary Assisted Returns (VARS).

Verified returns where an individual has left the UK without the knowledge of Home Office officials and is only established as having left following database checks, accounted for 34 per cent of returns under Labour.

The remaining 14 per cent were controlled returns, where an individual is liable for removal but has informed the Home Office they intend to return at their own expense.

Responding to the findings, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp MP, said: "We should not need to pay illegal immigrants and foreign criminals to leave. They should simply be kicked out.”

"The reason that these people need to be paid to leave is that our laws are too weak, and endless legal challenges allow illegal immigrants and foreign criminals to stay here."

Former Immigration Minister, Kevin Foster, also told GB News: "These figures show the staggering amount British taxpayers are now handing out to people who have no right to be here.

"The ability to game the asylum, modern slavery and human rights system to frustrate removals means too often illegal migrants can demand a ransom payment to leave."

The Prime Minister has struggled to get to grips with illegal migration since he came to power, with promises of "smashing the gangs" failing to materialise 18 months into his administration.

Since Labour came to power, 64,975 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel, with 41,474 crossing in 2025 alone.

In response, Reform UK Chief Whip, Lee Anderson, said: "British taxpayers are paying through the nose for Labour’s failure to smash the gangs and stop illegal arrivals.

"This eye-watering spending on Voluntary Assisted Returns would not be necessary if the Government got a grip on the sheer number of migrants entering the country illegally in the first place."

"Reform UK would ensure every illegal arrival is deported."

John O'Connell, Chief Executive at the Taxpayers' Alliance, also told the People’s Channel: "Taxpayers should not be expected to pick up the bill for payouts to people who should have never been in Britain in the first place.

"While we should welcome illegal migrants and foreign criminals leaving our country, providing them four-figure 'reintegration' packages is wrong and is not the job of the British state."

GB News has approached the Home Office for comment.

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