Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer's plan to establish "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers, dismissing the proposal as a "con on the British public".
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP claimed the hubs would have no practical effect on tackling illegal immigration.
Philp's comments come as the Labour government advances its plans to create facilities abroad to process individuals who have exhausted all appeals in the UK system.
The Prime Minister has positioned the initiative as part of a broader strategy to combat what he described as the "vile trade" in Channel crossings.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted the PM
GB NEWS
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "We did take action, for example, returns agreements with countries like Albania.
"So in 2023, our last full year in office, the number of illegal immigrants crossing the channel actually went down by a third.
"But because Keir Starmer cancelled the Rwanda deterrent before it even started on his watch, numbers are up by 30 per cent.
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"This year, so far, 2025 has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel.
"Because most illegal immigrants crossing the channel are from nationalities where they will get their asylum claim granted.
"The laws are so soft, we think they need to be tougher. So they're never going to end up in these return hubs, so it simply won't work.
"It is a con on the British public for Keir Starmer to claim these return hubs will have any practical effect."
The pressure on Starmer to address illegal immigration has intensified following recent data showing more than 12,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since the start of the year.
This comes as Reform UK emerged as the most popular party in recent local elections.
The electoral shift has prompted concern among Labour MPs, who are pressing the Prime Minister for effective action on migration.
The EU announced in March its approval for member states to pursue return hubs, aligning with Starmer's approach to collaborate with other European countries.
Keir Starmer outlined his vision for the return hubs
GB NEWS
Starmer has outlined his vision for the return hubs as facilities that would process individuals who have exhausted all appeals in the UK system.
"Now what we want to do, and are having discussions and talks of, is return hubs. These would be used when someone has been through the system in the UK and needs to be returned.
"We have to make sure those returns are carried out effectively, and we'll do that, if possible, through return hubs.
"By putting it all together: arrests, seizures, agreements with other countries, returning people who shouldn't be here, and establishing return hubs through these talks, we can strengthen our approach."
