'Absolute failure!' Nigel Farage tears into Labour's 'smash the gangs' plan in scathing Commons outburst

Nigel Farage asks question to Yvette Cooper in the Commons
GB NEWS
Gabrielle Wilde

By Gabrielle Wilde


Published: 12/05/2025

- 19:15

The fiery row comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced new measures aimed at reducing net migration

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage launched a blistering attack on the Government in the Commons this afternoon, branding Labour's "smash the gangs" migration policy an "absolute failure".

The outburst came during a heated exchange with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper following her statement to MPs.


Farage, who has been a vocal critic of the Government's approach to illegal migration, did not hold back in his assessment of Labour's efforts to tackle the issue.

The MP said: "Five years ago, I warned that if we didn’t leave the ECHR and immediately deport those arriving in Dover via small boats, there would be an invasion. And sure enough, I was right.

Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage has always been a vocal critic of Labour's immigration policy's

Parliament

"Today, a further 600 young men have already been processed through Dover perhaps even the odd Iranian terrorist among them. Who knows? How can you be sure?

"Does the Home Secretary accept that their smash the gangs policy has been a complete and total failure? And if that’s the case, why should we believe anything else they say?"

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Cooper defended the Government's approach stating: "No one should be making these dangerous boat crossings. They undermine our border security and put lives at risk."

Cooper emphasised that criminal gangs organising these crossings "are making a fortune from them."

"That's why we need counter-terrorism-style powers to go after these gangs," Cooper told the Commons.

"Tonight, he and his party have the opportunity to vote for those powers to help strengthen our border security. Previously, they voted against them.

"I believe we need these powers to take on the criminal gangs and protect our borders. Does he support that?"

The fiery row comes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced new measures aimed at reducing net migration.

These include considering deportation for foreign criminals and introducing new restrictions on visas for low-skilled jobs.

Most notably, the Government plans to scrap the care worker visa entirely.

Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper hit back at the Reform UK leader

Parliament

The policy changes appear to be a direct response to Reform UK's growing popularity with voters concerned about immigration levels.

Labour has defended its approach as "reasonable" and "evidence-based" despite criticism.

The Government maintains it is right to reduce net migration from what it describes as "absurdly high levels" reached under the previous Conservative administration.

Ministers argue that migration should be reduced when jobs can be filled through other means.

The number of overseas workers entering the social care sector has reportedly already decreased significantly from recent peaks.