Shadow Home Secretary blames Home Secretary for recent undetected small-boat arrivals

During an interview, Conservative MP Chris Philp charged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood with having "no control of our borders" after two small boats carrying illegal migrants reached Britain without detection. He pointed to more than 1,000 illegal entries over three days and suggested the UK should abandon the European Convention on Human Rights and deport all arrivals within a week, mirroring an Australian policy from about 13 years ago.

Philp also highlighted a crossing from Normandy to the Isle of Wight, calling it the longest recorded Channel passage, and warned that additional boats could be in the water. He blamed Labour’s £25 billion National Insurance increase for hurting businesses, citing the bankruptcy of Coughlans Bakery in his Croydon South constituency as an example. A Home Office spokesperson noted that overall small-boat crossings have fallen 42 percent this year, but acknowledged the need for further action. The debate underscores ongoing political tension over immigration policy and its economic repercussions.