Keir Starmer grilled by GB News on 'failing to keep Britons safe' after migrant crossings hit daily record

Katherine asked the Prime Minister: "Part of keeping British people safe is border security. You scrapped the Rwanda deterrent, you promised to smash the gangs who are clearly running rings around us, crossings are up 42 per cent this year compared to last - aren't you failing to keep us safe in the English Channel?"

Outlining Labour's work on bringing down migrant numbers, Starmer told GB News: "In relation to border security, I want to be really clear, nobody should be making that journey across the Channel, and it's our duty to make sure that we ensure that they don't.

"We are working very closely with our counterparts in France and elsewhere to take further action in northern France.

"And of course, we are giving enhanced powers to our own law enforcement through the borders Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

Defending his decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme on the first day of Labour rule, Starmer explained: "The reason we stood down the Rwanda scheme was because it cost a fortune, and only a handful of people went on a voluntary basis to Rwanda, and it didn't deter anybody.

"I'm not up for gimmicks, I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have in my determination to take down the gangs that are running this vile trade."

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Speaking in Glasgow, the Prime Minister also declared "every citizen has a role to play" in maintaining national security, claiming the review will "mobilise the nation".

Starmer said: "The Strategic Defence Review that I'm launching today will bring that unity of purpose to the whole of the United Kingdom, to mobilise the nation in a common cause, recognising in these dangerous times when it comes to defence of the realm and the defence of everything that we hold dear.

"Every part of society, every citizen of this country has a role to play, because we have to recognise that things have changed in the world of today. The threat we now face is more serious, more immediate, and more unpredictable than at any time since the Cold War. A new era in the threats that we face demands a new era for defence and security."

Katherine then pressed Starmer on Britain's efforts in defending Ukraine against Russia's invasion, asking why he is not going "further and faster" on defence spending.

Katherine asked: "There are warnings from Germany that Russia could invade a Nato ally as soon as in the next four years. You haven't even committed to get to 3 per cent in the next nine years.

"Lord Richard Dannatt this morning said that this is simply not going to cut the mustard. One of your favourite phrases is going further and faster - shouldn't you be going further and faster on this now?"

Starmer responded: "I think it's fair to say that the UK has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine since the very beginning of this conflict and continues to play a central part, and I'm very proud of the support that we give to Ukraine and very alert to the continued threat from Russia, whether that's continuing in Ukraine or the wider threat.

"And as I mentioned in my speech, don't forget that Russia is already menacing our skies and our waters and cyber attacks, so this is a real threat that we are dealing with. I believe that the best way to deter conflict is to prepare for it, which is why we commissioned this review, and why we will now act on this review going further and faster in what we're doing, which we have already done with pushing up defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027."

The Prime Minister added: "That wasn't in the manifesto of any of the parties going into the election, that is a commitment we've made since we've been in Government. We will keep to, and that is the mindset, but also a mindset change that this must produce the defence dividend in the jobs and the opportunities here in the United Kingdom, as we spend more money."