'We want safe routes!' Sir Keir Starmer faces new Labour revolt as rebels plot to block plans to end migrant crisis

Under the proposal, Channel migrants would be sent back to France within weeks of their arrival in return for the UK taking asylum seekers from France.

While the fine print of the plan is expected to be set out during a state visit by President Emmanuel Macron to London this week, prominent backbench Labour MPs have already threatened to revolt again over his proposed migrant deal.

Former shadow defence secretary and Norwich South MP Clive Lewis said installing "safe routes" is the only way to stop the boats.

Lewis, who earlier this week indicated he would rather stay in Labour than join a potential breakaway party led by former leader Jeremy Corbyn, told The Telegraph: "On immigration and asylum, why don’t we have safe routes?

"There’s no safe routes; if you want to stop the boats, establish safe routes.

"Labour should have a practical, humane policy. But any sense of a logical process that is based on human rights, basically what a Labour Government would traditionally be expected to do, is now out of the window."

Another backbench MP said: "Human traffickers are the scum of the earth and the idea was to get them but we don’t seem to be doing too well on that front. I’m not convinced by this, it sounds like another gimmick that is doomed to fail."

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Meanwhile, another senior Labour MP and former minister added:"I am very concerned by the [one in, one out] proposal.

"It’s a bit like the debate we had last week about welfare and disability payments. It just doesn’t really seem like a Labour thing to do.My view is that we should have more safe routes.

"There are a number of my colleagues, particularly those in Red Wall seats, that think being seen to be more conservative on immigration will help them win again next time."

They added that "many" Labour MPs disagreed with Downing Street Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney's suggestion to move to the right on immigration.

It comes as GB News exclusively revealed the number of migrant Channel crossings in the year since Sir Keir Starmer entered No10 is 40 per cent higher than those made during Rishi Sunak’s last 365 days in Downing Street.

More than 44,000 migrants have reached British shores via small boats since the General Election, including 20,600 so far this calendar year.

Reacting to the numbers, Reform UK MP for Ashfield Lee Anderson said: "Starmer is no friend of the British people and allowing thousands of potential criminals into our country is his way of sticking two fingers up to the hardworking Brits who have to pay for these economic spongers crossing the Channel.

"I don't want these people ruining our country but Starmer obviously does."

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told GB News: "The Labour Government’s claim to smash the gangs is in tatters.

"The boats are flooding over in record numbers and 2025 so far has been the worst in history."