RISHI Sunak came out swinging on tackling illegal immigration – demanding to know if Labour would do a deal with the Taliban.
PM questions Labour's approach
The Prime Minister took Sir Keir Starmer to task on stopping small boat Channel crossings and how to send back rejected asylum seekers. He called out his opponent on how he would make deals with the Taliban in Afghanistan or Iran's leaders to send migrants from those countries back.
Strong words from the PM
The PM needed a big performance on the night to shore up his core support and claw back Tories who have switched to Reform. He said: "Will you sit down with the Ayatollahs? Are you going to try to do a deal with the Taliban? It's completely nonsensical – you are taking people for fools."
Labour's response and Tory criticism
Meanwhile, Sir Keir pointed out that record numbers of migrants are crossing the Channel in small boats under the Tories. A senior Tory source criticized Sir Keir for folding on immigration issues.
Home Secretary's remarks
Home Secretary James Cleverly highlighted that Labour and Reform lack a concrete plan when it comes to migration issues. He emphasized the need for action in addressing illegal migration.
Asked about the number of small boat crossings in the Channel under the Tories, the Home Secretary stated that while acknowledging the issue is easy, taking action is crucial. He mentioned that people are hoping for a Labour government to remove certain deportation policies.
