Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead a summit of ministers and security bigwigs aimed at countering people-smuggling gangs fuelling the migrant crisis today.
Later on Friday, Cooper is set to chair the meeting at National Crime Agency (NCA) headquarters in London - with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Attorney General Lord Hermer, as well as representatives from the NCA, Border Force and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) all gathering to draw up plans to smash the gangs.
The Home Office has revealed that MI5 has been tasked with a key role in stymying the crisis - but the Home Secretary has her eyes on the continent, following up on Labour's push for a so-called "relations reset" with Europe and the EU.
Cooper has commissioned an analysis on the gangs, which will be examined at length at the talks today, and includes a drive for closer ties with European agencies like Europol.
Despite more than 20,000 migrants having arrived on Britain's shores in 2024 alone, the Home Secretary has hailed what she called "encouraging progress" on the crisis since Labour came to power.
Latest figures have put the number of small boat arrivals this year at a provisional total of 21,977, 3 per cent higher than at this point last year.
The Home Secretary said: "The last two months has seen encouraging progress, with significant seizures of boats and equipment in Europe.
"But there is work to do, and the Border Security Command will bring all the relevant bodies together to investigate, arrest and prosecute these networks, as well as deepen our ties with key international partners.
"At the same time, we are swiftly removing those with no right to be in the UK, which will ensure we have a fair, firm and functioning asylum system where the rules are respected and enforced."
But the mood in Europe, particularly in France, could present a challenge to the Home Office's schemes.
Just days ago, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin called for a new treaty between Britain and the EU - all 27 member states of which are designated "safe" nations - which could see asylum seekers in the bloc resettled in the UK.
He said: "The solution is... to do a treaty that allows the UK and the EU, not just France and the UK, to create a causal link between asylum requests and the granting of asylum in the UK.
Though Darmanin noted the fault lay at the feet of "criminal smugglers", he appeared to blame Britain's lax approach to deporting illegal migrants for incentivising Channel crossings.
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Downing Street: 'No plans' to send British prisoners to Estonia
There are "no plans" to send British prisoners to Estonia to serve out their sentences, Downing Street has said.
A No10 spokeswoman said this afternoon: "The Lord Chancellor has been clear that we have to bring in reforms to tackle the prison capacity crisis.
"That's why, alongside our commitment to build more prisons, we will be publishing a 10-year strategy in the autumn to set out how we will ensure that we always have the places we need to keep dangerous offenders behind bars.
"On those reports specifically, I would point out that this was the policy of the former Government - and that this Government has made no such plans or announcements with regard to Estonia."
Lammy faces further blowback over Israel arms decision as Labour MPs slam Foreign Secretary
A trio of Labour MPs have written to the Foreign Secretary raising concerns over his decision to pare back British arms export licences to Israel.
The move - which drew international ire from the US and Israel itself - has now seen criticism from closer to home, with MPs representing the three constituencies in the London Borough of Barnet all co-signing the letter.
Barnet has the highest Jewish population of the capital's 32 boroughs, at 14.5 per cent.
The trio - David Pinto-Duschinsky, Sarah Sackman and Dan Tomlinson - brought forward constituents' concerns over the timing of the announcement, Britain's relationship with Israel, and the message Lammy's decision sends to Israel's enemies - "Hamas, Iran and Iran's proxies".
They wrote: "Dear Secretary of State, we are writing to you in light of the Government’s decision on Monday September 2 to suspend some arms export licenses to Israel.
"Whilst we support the Government in its commitment to international humanitarian law, we thought that it was important to relay the views of many of our constituents.
"In each of our constituencies in Barnet, constituents have been in touch and expressed deep concern and upset about Monday's decision.
"They have asked that we express their concerns to you, so that the Government can better understand their point of view.
"Firstly, many constituents are upset and angry about the timing of the announcement which, as you know, came shortly after the murder of six hostages by Hamas terrorists.
"There was particular anger that the announcement itself coincided with the funeral of one of the hostages, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
"Secondly, our constituents have raised questions about the message that the decision sends to Israel's enemies, including Hamas, Iran and Iran's proxies.
"While the decision may have been intended to de-escalate the conflict, there is great concern that it may inadvertently have the opposite effect and adversely affect the security and safety of Israel and its people.
"Lastly, our constituents have queried what this means for Britain's longstanding relationship with Israel as an ally.
"They have also raised concerns about the possible impact of this decision on Britain’s perceived trustworthiness among its allies on the international stage."
Ex-Border Force chief: Stopping the gangs 'like Whac-A-Mole'
The former head of the British Border Force has said stopping smuggling gangs is "like Whac-A-Mole".
Tony Smith, who led Border Force until 2013, detailed how trafficking is "a very lucrative business for the smugglers" and said "putting a smuggling gang out of business... is a bit like Whac-A-Mole" because "there's usually another one waiting in the wings because the money is there".
Smith added: "So you do need a very concerted international attempt, both in Europe and beyond," speaking to the BBC.
Reform MP slams ‘broken’ borders as family of aspiring Marine murdered by asylum seeker demand FULL inquest
Reform has demanded further action after an aspiring marine was murdered by an Afghan asylum seeker who had shot dead two men in Serbia on his way to Britain.
Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai fatally stabbed Tom Roberts, 21, after a litany of state failures.
Abdulrahimzai claimed to be a 14-year-old fleeing the Taliban when he arrived by ferry to Poole, but he was actually 19.
And now, Reform's Rupert Lowe has warned that Britain has "no idea how many of the people who come here claiming to be children are adults".
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
'People didn't vote for things to get worse': Green Party conference kicks off as co-leaders blast Labour's message
The Green Party has said it will aim to counter "Labour's message of doom and gloom" as it begins its party conference today, marking the start of "conference season" in Britain.
The Greens, which boast four MPs, will be descending on Manchester this year to call for more spending, more tax, and a more European approach to public services and environmentalism.
Party co-leader and Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer said: "As Greens, we counter Labour's message of doom and gloom.
"Things can get better - and fast - but only if the new Government has the courage to invest."
Denyer said she and her party would push the Government to be "braver and bolder", including on the Budget.
She continued: "The Budget at the end of October will set the course for the rest of this Parliament.
"Green MPs do not accept the need for public spending cuts. On July 4 people didn't vote for things to get worse. They voted for change, and that’s what we are offering as Green MPs."
Fellow co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: "We need to invest in defending public services and protecting our environment - and we can do so with some changes to the tax system to ask the wealthiest in society to pay a little more.
"These tax changes are modest by the standards of many other European countries who recognise that having high quality public services and a greener economy needs investment."
The Greens have their eyes on a wealth tax on billionaires and multi-millionaires, reforms of capital gains tax and inheritance tax, and a swathe of spending hikes on health, social care and a nationwide home insulation drive.
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