New illegal migrant figures spark outrage as UK now has 'highest number in Europe': 'We want to kick them out!'

WATCH NOW: Bev and Andrew react to shocking new illegal migration figures

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 07/10/2024

- 12:35

Updated: 07/10/2024

- 12:55

The research found that there are up to 745,000 illegal migrants in the UK, surpassing both France and Germany

A study by Oxford University has left GB News hosts Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner outraged, as figured show that Britain now has the highest number of illegal migrants in Europe.

The data reveals that one in every 100 people in the country are an illegal migrant, and follows a record 973 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats on a single day.


In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson told the Telegraph: "Far from softening the response, this new Government has increased returns of those living here illegally and set up a new Border Security Command to relentlessly pursue the criminal smuggling gangs making millions out of small boat crossings, undermining our border security and putting lives at risk."

Reacting to the figures, Andrew Pierce expressed disbelief at the situation, asking: "How did we get in this situation?"

Andrew Pierce, Bev Turner

Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner were outraged at the latest figures

GB News

Cohost Bev Turner echoed Pierce's sentiment, stating: "It's not funny, but you sort of have to laugh because you can't work out how we've got here."

Illustrating the scale of the issue, she added: "If you think about any high school with thousand kids in it, 10 of them will be here illegally."

Sharing his insight on the new data, Tony Smith, former head of UK Border Force, suggested that the actual number of illegal migrants could be even higher, maybe even double.

He stated: "These data figures are originally from 2017, but more informed commentators would tell you it's probably about 1.5 million people that may well be in this country illegally now."

Smith then explained that many individuals have claimed permission to stay and are currently in a backlog, making them not immediately removable.

He also highlighted the challenges in tracking entries and exits, noting: "We don't have a biometric entry exit system in this country. We don't actually check people in and check people out like they do in the States.

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Migrants

One in 100 people in the UK are illegal migrants, new research has found

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"The EU are starting that next month with the entry exit scheme, so we do check people in. And even then, people coming through e-gates, we let lots of nationalities through the e-gates, which can't ask you any questions."

In response to Smith's remarks, Andrew highlighted how we need to "kick them out", not "invite them to stay".

Andrew raged: "I remember when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, one of his ideas was to give an amnesty to illegal migrants, and I think the figure was half a million in London. We want to kick them out!"

In agreement with Andrew, Bev also expressed her concerns, highlighting Smith's point about the "e-gates" and how illegal migrants "aren't arriving on planes".

Former head of UK Border Force Tony Smith estimated that the figures could be 'double' what has been reported

GB News

Bev told GB News: "They'll find a way, they'll find a way.

"You can have a biometric system at the airport, but they're not coming on the aeroplanes anyway, so they'll still find a way to get around any sort of biometric system that we all then get enslaved to. But the crooks will always find a way."

Taking a swipe at the Labour government's efforts to tackle the crisis, Andrew jibed: "The new Labour government is going to smash the gangs, so that's all right. We can all sleep safe at night.

"It's outrageous - and tell us how outraged you are, because we are both outraged."

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