Watch the moment Reform UK’s Lee Anderson fumes at former Labour MP Stephen Pound after he repeatedly referred to Tory failures during a debate about the migrant crisis.
Mr Pound said while Labour has struggled to stem the tide, 14 years of Tory failure led to the problem.
Speaking on Lee Anderson’s Real World, the Reform MP hit back by saying the crisis has “got worse and worse” under Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Pound said: “We’ve got to be a bit more sensible and rational. The only way we can deal with this issue is by firstly processing people as quickly as possible.”
The pair furiously clashed on GB News
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Lee hit back: “No, no, no. I’m not having this. Processing people more quickly does not stop people coming over the Channel.”
“It does”, Mr Pound hit back. He continued: “At the moment, just try and imagine you’re a smuggler trying to sell the product.
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“If you come to the UK and you’re processed within three weeks, you will be sent back.”
“Sent back to where?”, Lee asked.
Stephen Pound pointed to the previous Tory administration
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The former Labour MP said: “Albania? I don’t care. Afghanistan and Iran are problems, I agree. But most are coming from Eritrea. Why can’t we send people back there?”
Lizzie Cundy interjected to say Mr Pound was “doing exactly what Keir Starmer does”.
“Are you taking lessons from him?”, Ms Cundy asked.
“This Government is not looking after its own people and you are as bad, Stephen Pound.
A fierce debate broke out on GB News
|GB NEWS
“You are not admitting this is a massive crisis. You’ve lost your way. 64 per cent of Labour voters are most concerned about this.”
Mr Pound said he is “living in the real world”, only for Lee to hold his head in his hands.
He asked “what did the Tories do in 14 years?”, only for Lee to hit back: “You’re going on about the Tories again, we’re talking about now.”
A recent YouGov survey has revealed widespread doubt about Governmental capacity to manage Channel crossings, with 48 per cent of respondents expressing scepticism about ministerial abilities to restrict migrant boat arrivals.
The polling data emerges as unauthorised Channel crossings under Labour's administration have surpassed 50,000 individuals, reaching this threshold more rapidly than during previous governments.
The survey, which gathered responses from 8,731 adults, found that merely 44 per cent believed ministers could effectively limit small boat numbers, whilst eight per cent remained undecided.
This milestone represents approximately one arrival every eleven minutes since the general election, achieved seven months faster than under Rishi Sunak's tenure.
Public confidence appears particularly shaken regarding Sir Keir Starmer's strategy to "smash the gangs", implemented after his immediate decision to abandon the Conservative Rwanda deterrent programme upon taking office.
Government representatives have attempted to deflect responsibility, with former Labour home secretary Jacqui Smith attributing the situation to Conservative policies during a BBC Breakfast appearance.
"What is happening is the result of the last Government," Baroness Smith stated, describing current arrival numbers as "unacceptable" and highlighting how criminal networks have established themselves over recent years in human trafficking operations.