A well-known figure in the immigration debate has once again raised concerns about the growing number of people crossing the English Channel illegally. Recalling his efforts four years ago, he highlighted how he repeatedly filmed small boats, or dinghies, bringing people to Britain, often carrying around 16 passengers per boat. At the time, he was dismissed as a desperate attention-seeker, but he insists that his warnings were accurate.
He argues that the surge in illegal immigration is a direct result of Britain stopping deportations. He pointed out that during the last Labour government, led by figures like former Home Secretary David Blunkett, immigration laws were stricter. In the final year of Labour’s rule from 2009 to 2010, 50,000 illegal immigrants were deported. However, he claims that under both the Conservative government and the current Labour leadership, deportations have dramatically declined, making it easier for illegal immigrants to stay in the UK.
A key reason for this, he suggests, is the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Established after World War I with good intentions, he now believes it has become outdated and is preventing the UK from taking stronger action on illegal immigration. He also dismissed the government’s recent plans, such as deporting a few people to Rwanda or targeting criminal gangs, as ineffective. He compared the fight against people-smuggling to the war on drugs, which has continued for decades with little success.
According to him, smuggling migrants across the Channel has become a highly profitable business, generating up to €3 million per week for gangs. He argues that tougher penalties will not stop them, as long as they can continue making such huge profits. The only real solution, he claims, is to resume deporting illegal immigrants.
To solve the problem, he proposes a bold idea—holding a referendum on whether the UK should remain part of the ECHR. He believes such a vote would not only decide Britain’s future approach to immigration but also engage the public and lead to a higher voter turnout. The question now is whether the government will take up this challenge or continue with its current approach.
