GB News star Michelle Dewberry has called for an explanation into why small boats carrying migrants across the British Channel aren’t sent back to France.
The small boats crisis has exploded in recent years with more than 147,000 arriving in the UK on small boats since 2018.
Sir Keir Starmer’s proposed solution involves ‘smashing the gangs’, promising to use counter-terrorism tactics in order to do so.
But Michelle said having officials stationed on the Channel to send migrants back towards France could be a more effective solution.
Michelle Dewberry questioned why Channel migrants can't be intercepted
GB NEWS / PA
“You say deporting people is the only solution here”, she said.
“Some of our viewers will say this isn’t the only solution. Many will argue not enough consideration has been done about sending them back.”
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Political commentators Benedict Spence and Aaron Bastani disagreed with deploying such a tactic, saying the risk of death on the Channel would be greatly increased.
“Everyone seems to be uncomfortable with exploring the solution of sending these boats around”, Michelle said.
“I would argue there hasn’t been enough exploration of this as a potential solution.
“If those boats were not allowed to reach UK shores, you’d dry up your business of people smuggling in an instant.”
Dewbs's two panellists disagreed with her
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Spence cited Greece’s bid to send migrants back to Turkey, which he said landed them in “hot water” because “more ended up dying”.
“If you just deported people, you have the same impact”, Spence said.
“It’s slightly less dangerous than sending people back in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.”
Michelle hit back: “What I’m arguing is, there has not been a serious exploration into this possibility. I don’t believe this conversation has been properly had.
The NCA says tackling small boat crossings is a 'top priority'NCA“They know when they make it to the UK, they’ll be in a four-star hotel before their feet hit the ground.
“If you started enacting this, you wouldn’t have a situation where hundreds are flocking over in summer months. If we’re going to keep asking British taxpayers, when we’re so skint we can’t afford to heat pensioner’s homes apparently, continue finding tens of millions to try to solve this issue, we should be shown all routes are being actively explored.
“I would argue this possibility is not being thoroughly explored.”
