We don't have control of our borders, admits home secretary

Sky News

The government does not currently have control of Britain's borders, the home secretary will admit today.

Shabana Mahmood is hosting counterparts from the Western Balkans and other European allies in London, and will demand greater international co-operation to tackle small boat crossings.

The summit is designed to ensure nations on the continent strike new deals to tackle illegal migration, following Britain's "one in, one out" agreement with France signed earlier this year.

Calling for a "joined-up" response to the challenge, Ms Mahmood will say "coming together as we are today [...] will make all of our borders and our countries stronger".

In the meantime, however, the government has failed "to bring order to our borders".

"The citizens of each of our countries have a very simple expectation of us," Ms Mahmood will say. "The public rightly expect their government will be able to determine who enters their country, and who must leave.

"Today, in this country, and I know in many if not all of yours, that is not the case. And the failure to bring order to our borders is eroding trust not just in us as political leaders, but in the credibility of the state itself."

The Western Balkans is a major transit route for people smuggling across borders, the Home Office says, with some 22,000 people transported last year.

Many of the asylum seekers who cross the Channel had ended up in France via several other European countries, journeying across the continent after leaving their homes in parts of Africa and the Middle East.

Today's summit of European ministers will include representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Kosovo, Poland, Serbia, and others.

Ms Mahmood will reject the approach of those she will say "turn inwards" to deal with immigration, as both the Conservatives and Reform tout the prospect of leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

But Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp dismissed the tone of Ms Mahmood's comments, pointing to the record numbers of migrants crossing the Channel this year.

The increase, and the use of hotels to accommodate them, drove anti-immigration protests across the UK over the summer months. The government wants to close all such hotels by the next general election.

In addition to trying to tackle people smuggling, ministers have also announced policies to bring down legal immigration, with a requirement to learn English to A-level standard outlined in parliament on Tuesday.

"If you come to this country, you must learn our language and play your part," Ms Mahmood said.

It's expected to come into force after 4 November.