UK PM Burnham: My government will be relentless in tackling small boat crossing
UK PM Burnham: My government will be relentless in tackling small boat crossing
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says his government will be “relentless” in curbing the number of people arriving in the United Kingdom (UK) on small boats.
Burnham said the approach is in line with his pledge to reform the political system as the country’s new leader.
He noted that although the number of crossings has fallen by 50 percent compared with last year, the UK would not become complacent about the issue.
“We can choose to play politics on this issue, or we can just get on with it and sort it out. I know which one I’m doing,” Burnham said on Sunday.
“We also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs.”
The prime minister said progress had been made, adding that the government is “changing the whole approach”, with the number of enforcement officers tackling people-smuggling gangs on both sides of the Channel having doubled.
Political debate around the UK’s policies on illegal migration has resurfaced since nearly 60,000 migrants swam into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday.
Following a swift crackdown, Spain said almost all the migrants had returned to the North African country.
Burnham said the move addressed the immediate issue but noted that “there’s a broader issue about the Schengen area and our relationship with it, and of course, I would want to be in regular dialogue with the EU on those issues.”
He added that the public did not like the idea that “the border looks like it’s not controlled”. The prime minister said the UK would regain control of its borders while continuing to offer help to those who genuinely need it.
