Reform UK's Head of Policy Zia Yusuf has launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister's visit to Beijing, branding the trip's focus on tackling Channel crossings through boat engine supply chains as "utterly absurd".
The comments come as it has been revealed that Sir Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping would announce a joint initiative to combat people trafficking gangs, with efforts centred on curbing the use of Chinese-manufactured engines powering small boats that ferry migrants across European waters to seek asylum.
The Prime Minister told the Chinest President that Britain seeks a "more sophisticated" relationship with the world's second-largest economy, one where both nations can identify collaborative opportunities whilst maintaining meaningful dialogue on points of disagreement.
"China is a vital player on the global stage," Mr Starmer said during the opening of their talks.
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Speaking on GB News, Mr Yusuf said: "It’s one of the most insane things I’ve ever heard.
"Only Keir Starmer could respond to the real-time invasion of the United Kingdom, people crossing from France via the English Channel, by saying, 'I know what I’m going to do: I’m going to go to China' to solve this problem.
It’s utterly, utterly insane, and people should treat it with the contempt it deserves. And look, we’re talking about motors for dinghies.
"It’s not enriched uranium. As you pointed out, there are tens of thousands available on eBay.
Zia Yusuf blasted Keir Starmer for his China trip
|GB NEWS
"They’re straightforward to get hold of. We’re giving this far too much credit.
"Great work by GB News highlighting that even people smugglers often avoid using these knock-off Chinese goods.
"But this isn’t an indictment of the country, it’s a crisis in real time. We are being invaded, and I use that word advisedly.
"More military-aged men from countries hostile to us have landed on our beaches uninvited than stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Xi Jinping have conducted initial talks in Beijing | PA"It is an absolute disgrace. What we need is to uphold our immigration laws.
"We need to leave the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights), derogate from any international treaties that frustrate deportations, and make it clear: if you’re in this country illegally, you will be detained and deported.
"That’s how you stop the boats, not by going to China to parade some policy about reducing the supply of dinghy motors.
"Of course, some might argue that the word “invasion” is a touch close to to the bone but the reality is undeniable."
More than 50 senior business executives accompanied the Prime Minister on the delegation.
Under the arrangement, British and Chinese officials will exchange intelligence to map smugglers' supply networks and collaborate with manufacturers to prevent legitimate businesses being exploited by criminal organisations.
Beyond the migration deal, the visit yielded a services partnership granting visa-free access to China, with Starmer noting that British businesses are "crying out for ways to grow their footprints" in the country.
Discussions also touched on potential cooperation in education, healthcare, financial services, and joint research into artificial intelligence, biosciences and low-carbon technology.
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