Keir Starmer promises to ‘smash’ people smuggling gangs

Stopping people from crossing the channel in small boats is a goal on which the government has staked its reputation.

Today, Labour attempted to seize the initiative on people smuggling – Sir Keir Starmer announcing a range of measures during a visit to the EU’s policing agency.

But a possible deal to accept some migrants from the EU in order to return others was quickly seized on by Conservative ministers.