More Than 10,000 People Sign Petition Asking Andy Burnham to Do What Britons Have Been Telling Him to Do, After Suspicions That He Has Been Avoiding the Issue

Andy Burnham has been urged to support a full public inquiry into illegal migration after a petition calling for an investigation quickly attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

The petition was published on July 15 and has continued to gain support. Reaching 10,000 signatures means the Government is required to respond to the petition. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

The petition calls for a full investigation into illegal migration in the UK. It says the inquiry should look closely at the effectiveness of Britain’s border controls, the amount of money being spent by taxpayers and the way people who have no right to remain in the country are removed.

The person who created the petition argued that large numbers of people enter the UK through irregular routes each year and claimed that the situation has placed additional pressure on taxpayers and communities.

The petition has attracted attention at a time when small boat crossings across the English Channel remain a major political issue. The Government has faced continued pressure to reduce the number of people making the dangerous journey from France to Britain and to tackle the criminal gangs involved in people smuggling.

The issue has also created a wider debate about how the asylum system is managed once people arrive in the UK. A major concern raised by critics is the cost of providing accommodation and support while asylum claims are being processed.

The Government has said it wants to reduce its reliance on asylum hotels and has made ending hotel use part of its wider plans to reform the asylum system. However, the issue remains controversial, particularly in communities where asylum seekers are being accommodated.

The petition comes as Parliament continues to debate different ways of dealing with irregular migration. Earlier this year, another immigration petition attracted more than 720,000 signatures and was debated in Westminster Hall. That petition called for offshore detention and deportation arrangements for people who enter the UK illegally.

Supporters of tougher immigration policies argue that the Government needs to take stronger action to protect the UK’s borders and make it easier to remove people who do not have a legal right to remain in the country.

They also argue that the current system is too expensive and takes too long to process asylum claims, leaving taxpayers responsible for accommodation and other support for extended periods.

However, critics of tougher measures argue that the situation is more complicated because people arriving through irregular routes can apply for asylum, and their claims must be considered under the UK’s legal obligations.

The Government is also working on wider immigration reforms. The Immigration and Asylum Bill, introduced in the House of Commons in June 2026, includes plans to change the asylum system, create an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority and introduce other measures relating to immigration enforcement and protection.

The latest petition is therefore likely to keep immigration high on the political agenda as MPs continue to debate how Britain should control its borders, process asylum applications and deal with people whose claims are rejected.

For supporters of the petition, reaching 100,000 signatures would be an important next step because it would mean the issue could be considered for a parliamentary debate. The Petitions Committee can then decide whether to schedule a debate in Westminster Hall.

The petition remains open until January 15, 2027, meaning there is still time for its supporters to try to reach the 100,000-signature target.

The growing number of signatures shows that immigration remains a major concern for many people across Britain. At the same time, the debate is likely to remain deeply divided, with some calling for much stronger border controls and faster deportations, while others argue that asylum seekers must be treated fairly and that the Government should focus on fixing delays within the existing system.

Whatever happens next, reaching the 100,000-signature mark would put further pressure on the Government to address the concerns raised by the petition and could give MPs an opportunity to debate the issue directly in Parliament.