Labour would make the UK the “soft-touch illegal migration capital of the world”, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has claimed as the Conservative Party highlighted its plans to cut illegal and legal immigration.
The Tories claim Keir Starmer’s proposals to curb migration would let thousands more people into the UK each year.
Mr Sunak criticised Mr Starmer’s “illegal migration amnesty and sweetheart deal with the EU”, in a desperate bid to reduce Labour’s stubborn double-digit opinion poll lead before the July 4 general election.
The Conservatives repeated their pledges to halt illegal migration, including “running a regular rhythm of flights to Rwanda to provide an effective deterrent, starting in July, until the boats are stopped”.
But the opposition replied with, “instead of the gimmicks, Labour will get a grip” on the issue.
It accused the Tories of “desperately inventing lies” about their policies.
The number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel hit a record for the first six months of a calendar year – at 12,901.
The tally of crossings since Mr Sunak, who promised to “stop the boats”, became Prime Minister in October 2022 is fast approaching 50,000.
The Tories also vowed to bring into force the Illegal Migration Act, which became law last year, to “stop illegal migrants from bringing spurious claims to stop their removal”, and return more people with no right to be in the UK to their own country.
On cutting legal migration, the party repeated its plans to introduce a cap on the number of work visas and allowing Parliament to vote on where the limit should be set.
If re-elected, the Tories would commission the independent Migration Advisory Committee to recommend an annual level, and automatically raise the salary threshold for skilled workers and the family income requirement in line with inflation.
Net migration – the difference between the number of people legally arriving in the UK and leaving – hit 685,000 last year.
That is more than three times higher than the figure at the time of the last election, when the Conservatives promised to cut overall numbers in their 2019 manifesto.
“Migration is too high and the Conservatives have a clear plan to get it down,” Mr Sunak said.
“Labour would rip up our plan on day one by scrapping the Rwanda scheme, despite countries across Europe looking to it themselves to deal with their own migration pressures.
“Labour’s only alternative is an illegal migration amnesty and sweetheart deal with the EU that would see Britain taking even more illegal migrants from the continent – the opposite of what Britain needs.
“So that’s the clear choice at this election – the Conservatives, who have shown they will take the bold action necessary to break the model of the smuggling gangs and stop the boats; and Labour, who would make us the soft-touch illegal migration capital of the world and take us back to square one.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly said Labour would “send immigration soaring”.
“The Labour Party have got a complete vacuum where their policies should be,” Mr Cleverly said.
“Their big idea is for a border command that already exists.”
Britain's Labour Party through the years – in pictures
Mr Starmer’s party has pledged in its manifesto to axe the multimillion-pound stalled plan to send migrants to Rwanda and use the money to pay for a new security border command.
If elected, Labour would launch the unit with “hundreds of new specialist investigators”, vowing to “use counter-terror powers to smash criminal boat gangs” in a bid to curb Channel crossings.
The party would also seek a “new security agreement with the EU to ensure access to real-time intelligence” so police can work with European counterparts.
“The Tories’ so-called plan is more of the same chaotic failures and desperate lies – they are trying to take the country for fools,” shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said.
“Small boat crossings have hit 50,000 on Rishi Sunak’s watch and net migration has trebled since the last election.
“The extortionate Rwanda scheme has been running two years and just two volunteers have been sent.
“Rishi Sunak’s promises and policies are all just a total con. All they are offering is more of the same failed approach while desperately inventing lies about Labour.
“Labour will set up a new Border Security Command with new counter-terror powers and hundreds of additional cross-border police and investigators to smash criminal smuggler gangs.
“We will put a stop to the Tories asylum hotel amnesty by clearing the backlog with a new Returns and Enforcement Unit to return those with no right to be here.
“Labour will link visa controls to new workforce plans and training requirements to tackle skills shortages and bring net migration down.”
Mr Sunak is not expected to hit the campaign trail on Tuesday, when he will focus on the state visit of the Japanese emperor and empress.
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AL%20BOOM
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ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
