Surging Nationwide

Reform gained seats from both Labour and the Tories this week.

Keir Starmer wants you to believe that he’s tough on illegal migration.

We now regularly get a flurry of tweets from the Prime Minister.

Yesterday he said:

“If you're one of the smugglers putting people in small boats across the channel — we’re coming after you.”

And the PM recently stated that:

“I know you're angry about immigration. I get it.

“Mark my words: I will take back control of our borders.

“That means cutting migration, ending the use of asylum hotels, and ramping up our efforts to stop small boat crossings.

“We will smash the people smuggling gangs at source.”

The problem for this Labour Government is that they have actually overseen a bigger illegal boat surge than ever before.

2025 has already seen 10,000 people illegally cross from France to England more quickly than even in previous years.

The numbers are up and they’re surging, with a Government still utterly committed to the absurd ECHR.

But Starmer has to at least talk tough because Labour MPs are getting nervous.

They see the polls and how, on the current trajectory, most of them will lose their seats at the next General Election.

Stuart Mitchell/@IncMonocle

Find Out Now recently recorded Reform UK on 33%. That’s a big 12-point lead over Labour, with the Tories miles behind on 16%.

You also have the big Scottish and Welsh Parliament elections just next year.

And more results this week will have made Labour even more nervous. Big things are happening across the country.