Labour minister squirms in Sky grilling over 50,000 migrant crossing Channel

A Labour minister faced an intense grilling over 50,000 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats under Sir Keir Starmer. The milestone is expected to be confirmed when official figures are released later today.

During an appearance on Sky News this morning, Women and equalities minister Baroness Jacqui Smith was pressed on the 50,000 total being reached quicker under Sir Keir than any previous prime minister. Host Wilfred Frost said: "It will be confirmed today that it's 50,000, this is the fastest that has happened under a new prime minister. Quite significant, 401 days under Keir Starmer compared to 603 under Rishi Sunak."

Baroness Smith replied: "You're right that there were similar numbers under the last government..."

But the presenter cut in: "It took one and a half times the amount of time."

Baroness Smith said: "There was also a significant period of time in which the criminal gangs who are behind this had the opportunity to get their operation set up and really embed it.

"And that's the task this government has now, to deconstruct that, to build on the arrests that we've already made of people who are responsible for this, and to cut the numbers.

"That needs a whole range of activity which we've started, which we're continuing with the legislation we're taking through Parliament which will provide even stronger terrorism-style powers to help to deal with what I completely accept to look and and be part of a hideous crime."

Frost said: "The pledge was to smash the gangs, instead the numbers are the worst they've ever been year to date, they've reached 50,000 quicker than under any prime minister.

"So at the same if you're saying the problem's been allowed to get so much worse, do you acknowledge that the first year has gone worse than you wanted and the numbers have got worse?"

The Labour politician replied: "This is a problem that up to this point we haven't managed to tackle in terms of the numbers who are coming here but it is a completely legitimate claim to say that was is happening is a result of the last government that chose to focus on gimmicks through the Rwanda scheme that returned four volunteers."

Frost then pressed her on when the Labour government would accept responsibility for the crisis.

He said: "Correct me if I'm wrong but I think what you're saying is one year in this is still not your responsibility? Are you saying it's not your fault? What about after two years is it then your fault?"

She replied: "I don't think it is our fault that it was enabled to take root in the way in which it has done by a government who failed to do what was necessary at that point but this government has been doing for the last year."