Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has launched a scathing attack on Labour's new measures to tackle people smuggling gangs, dismissing them as "extremely weak" and "fanciful."
Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP ridiculed the government's plans to confiscate mobile phones from suspected smugglers.
The criticism comes as Labour unveiled new powers allowing courts to impose travel bans and social media blackouts on suspected traffickers before conviction.
Philp said: "These are very minor measures the government has announced that are frankly going to make no difference at all.
"The idea that telling a people smuggler they might get their mobile phone confiscated is going to make the slightest bit of difference is, frankly, fanciful.
"The government have completely failed so far to smash the gangs as they keep putting it. This is the same government, of course, the same Labour Party who voted against life sentences for those very same gangs when they were in opposition and on their watch since the election.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"Six months ago, illegal immigration across the channel has gone up by 29 per cent. Compared to last year, about 1500 illegal immigrants have crossed in the last week alone.
"It was a huge mistake of Labour to scrap the Rwanda deterrent before it even started. The first flight was due to take off on July 24, and Labour cancelled it before that plane had a chance to leave.
"I think if that had started then we would see the numbers dramatically reducing. We saw that work in Australia about 10 years ago, when they removed people to an island called Nauru.
"It stands to common sense if an immigrant is thinking of crossing the channel, but they know they're going to get sent straight to Rwanda, they're not going to bother crossing in the first place.
"So a massive mistake by Labour to cancel that scheme and all we get in its place are these extremely weak measures that are going to, frankly, make no difference whatsoever."
Under the new measures, the National Crime Agency, police and Border Force will be able to apply for "interim" Serious Crime Prevention Orders directly through the High Court.
These court orders will allow immediate restrictions on suspects before a full conviction is secured.
Suspected smugglers could face bans from using laptops and mobile phones, accessing social media networks, or associating with certain individuals.
The Home Office says the approach will form part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Breaching an interim order could result in up to five years in prison.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. They cannot be allowed to get away with it."
The orders mirror powers already used to tackle other serious crimes, including drug trafficking and fraud.
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Speaking to GB News, the Conservative MP ridiculed the government's plans to confiscate mobile phones from suspected smugglers.
The criticism comes as Labour unveiled new powers allowing courts to impose travel bans and social media blackouts on suspected traffickers before conviction.
Philp said: "These are very minor measures the government has announced that are frankly going to make no difference at all.
"The idea that telling a people smuggler they might get their mobile phone confiscated is going to make the slightest bit of difference is, frankly, fanciful.
"The government have completely failed so far to smash the gangs as they keep putting it. This is the same government, of course, the same Labour Party who voted against life sentences for those very same gangs when they were in opposition and on their watch since the election.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
- Illegal migrant with 17 previous convictions cannot get deported from Britain
- Lee Anderson demands small boats be turned back 'the same day' after Christmas Channel crossings
- Over 36,000 migrants crossed the Channel into Britain in 2024 marking a 25% increase from 2023
"Six months ago, illegal immigration across the channel has gone up by 29 per cent. Compared to last year, about 1500 illegal immigrants have crossed in the last week alone.
"It was a huge mistake of Labour to scrap the Rwanda deterrent before it even started. The first flight was due to take off on July 24, and Labour cancelled it before that plane had a chance to leave.
"I think if that had started then we would see the numbers dramatically reducing. We saw that work in Australia about 10 years ago, when they removed people to an island called Nauru.
"It stands to common sense if an immigrant is thinking of crossing the channel, but they know they're going to get sent straight to Rwanda, they're not going to bother crossing in the first place.
"So a massive mistake by Labour to cancel that scheme and all we get in its place are these extremely weak measures that are going to, frankly, make no difference whatsoever."
Under the new measures, the National Crime Agency, police and Border Force will be able to apply for "interim" Serious Crime Prevention Orders directly through the High Court.
These court orders will allow immediate restrictions on suspects before a full conviction is secured.
Suspected smugglers could face bans from using laptops and mobile phones, accessing social media networks, or associating with certain individuals.
The Home Office says the approach will form part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
Breaching an interim order could result in up to five years in prison.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Dangerous criminal people-smugglers are profiting from undermining our border security and putting lives at risk. They cannot be allowed to get away with it."
The orders mirror powers already used to tackle other serious crimes, including drug trafficking and fraud.
Find Out More...