Politics

Keir Starmer’s Migrant Crisis Plan Is Turning into a National Embarrassment

Published on July 3, 2025

When Keir Starmer swept into Number 10 last year, he wasn’t exactly shy about what he planned to do with the small boats crisis. He stood in front of the cameras, bold as brass, declaring he’d “smash the gangs” and stop the dangerous crossings for good. No more gimmicks like the Rwanda plan, no mass deportations, and absolutely no talk of leaving the ECHR – because, of course, that’s sacred ground for him.

Fast forward to now and that tough talk is looking more like a bad joke. We’ve just hit a grim new milestone – 20,000 migrants have already made the perilous trip across the Channel in 2025. And it’s only July. With warm weather forecast for the next couple of weeks, Border Force is bracing for several “red days,” meaning we can expect hundreds more people arriving on our beaches every single day, reported the Express.

So, what’s the big plan then? Starmer wants to do a new deal with France. The idea is simple – for every migrant we take in, France takes one back. Sounds neat on paper, but let’s not forget how the last arrangement with Macron panned out. We paid millions to fund extra patrols, and what did we get? French officers twiddling their thumbs while boats slipped through undisturbed. Now we’re apparently going to hand over even more cash and cross our fingers that this time they’ll take it seriously.

The migrants, meanwhile, aren’t exactly quaking in their boots. Reports suggest many are openly mocking Britain’s approach, confident that once they make it to UK shores, they’ve basically made it. Can you really blame them?

If Starmer genuinely wants to put an end to this crisis, maybe he should look a bit further south. Over in Greece, the government’s been taking a far more direct route. Their tactic? Pushbacks. Greek authorities intercept migrant boats and return them to the waters they came from. It’s controversial, yes, and human rights groups are up in arms, but here’s the thing – it’s working.

Just this week, it emerged that crossings to Lesbos – which once saw up to 3,500 people a day – have plummeted to around 1,700 for the entire year. That’s not a small improvement. That’s a total transformation. And while NGOs may not be thrilled, it’s hard to imagine Greek voters losing sleep over it.

Could Starmer follow suit and send small boats back to France? Realistically, it’s a long shot. The man is far too worried about upsetting Labour’s left flank and keeping in with his Islington set to take such a bold step. Instead, we’ll likely get more platitudes about “smashing the gangs” while nothing actually changes.

The truth is, the British public is running out of patience. People want firm, effective action – not wishy-washy diplomacy and empty promises. Yet here we are, halfway through the year, and the boats are still coming. The numbers are getting worse. And Starmer’s grand strategy? More meetings, more deals, and more of the same. If this is his master plan, it’s not hard to see why so many are starting to lose faith.

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