Education Secretary Lucy Powell was asked on the Today Programme about the fact that two small boats with illegal migrants had evaded UK Border Force detection. Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review into the rare event…
Powell said: “We can’t stop everything all the time.” Sorry?
Labour had boasted about beefed up security in the Channel, which is meant to be one of the most well-surveilled waterways on earth. Not so under Labour…
Mahmood, for her part, said last night:
“This was not acceptable. Our improved monitoring has led to uncontrolled crossings becoming incredibly rare. But even one is one too many. That is why I have ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command into how this happened, and what must be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again. The new tactics adopted by the smugglers, like launches from much further west in France, are a reminder of two things.
Firstly, these gangs have no regard for human life. They are putting people on increasingly long and dangerous crossings. Secondly, our efforts are having an impact. We are making it much harder for gangs to launch vessels, forcing them to change their approach, and as a result we are significantly reducing the numbers coming here by small boat.”
The new line is: “We can’t stop everything.” Stick that on a poster…
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…