Sir Keir Starmer has sparked a fresh row as the Prime Minister prepares to launch a new "crackdown" to curb net migration.The announcement comes just days after Reform UK opened up a 10-point lead over Labour in new polling.FULL STORY HERE.
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00:00I think with these changes, the numbers will come down, and that will be the proof in the pudding.
00:04As a matter of fact, they're both shaking their heads.
00:06I find that quite laughable, what Bill said there.
00:10Actions speak louder than words.
00:12You do not remove legislation that makes it illegal to cross the channel on a dinghy
00:16if you're serious about stopping that exactly happening.
00:20You do not promise to get rid of migrant hotels
00:24and then suddenly sign us up to five-year contracts for hundreds more.
00:28The government didn't do that.
00:31Yes, they have.
00:31No, they haven't.
00:32Those contracts were signed by the previous Conservative government.
00:35And the commitment to end...
00:38Yes, because we inherited a system that was in crisis.
00:43But the commitment to end hotel use was a commitment for a five-year parliament.
00:47We've been in government for nine months.
00:48Pre-election.
00:49We're going to smash the gangs.
00:51It was all over every newspaper.
00:52That was a pre-election promise.
00:54Not smash one gang.
00:55Not one.
00:57You're liars.
00:57Labour are liars.
00:59Are you standing silent?
01:00Look, no, no, no, I'm not.
01:02In your fantasy world, you think that you...
01:05I'm with the majority, Bill.
01:06You think you can just say things and make it happen.
01:08The system was broken.
01:10I'm sorry, but I think that you are in a fantasy world to suggest that Labour have not made any
01:14mistakes in the time that they have been in government.
01:17I mean, the statement they put out after they lost the Runcorn by-election just, to me,
01:22showed they really are not reading the room and recognising the fact that they have made mistakes
01:26on specifically the point of hotels.
01:28They may have made a commitment, that is, for five years, right?
01:32But the number of hotels is going up, and their solution to the problem seems to be pushing
01:36them out of hotels and into private rented accommodation.
01:38You've got people being evicted, right?
01:40The Labour Party, they're acting as though, oh, nothing's gone wrong.
01:43Our plan is just taking time.
01:44But the electorate are absolutely furious.
01:47And I think that it is wrong to suggest that after the result, they are not panicking.
01:52There has clearly been a marked change of tune in their messaging, which does reek of desperation.
01:58Do you agree with any of that?
01:58And it's clearly trying to copy the Reform Party.
02:00No, no, no, no.
02:01It's not.
02:02Look, the white paper that's coming out tomorrow has been six months in the planning.
02:05The idea that we've just conjured this up in response to local activities.
02:08Any minute element of Chloe's comment there, that Labour must be thinking about manoeuvring
02:15or changing tact in response to reform, surely?
02:18No, no, no.
02:19I take this on board.
02:20You say, you know, I don't think that the government's made mistakes.
02:24It has.
02:24I've got an article on the GB News website today saying there needs to be a U-turn on
02:28the winter fuel allowance.
02:29I think that was a significant error, and it should be overturned.
02:33But on migration, I know from my experience in government, you can do all the right things,
02:39but it takes time to bring the numbers down.
02:41You know, we reduced asylum claims from 85,000 to 15,000, but it took five years.
02:48And any party and any politician who suggests otherwise, and there's a magic solution over
02:53a few months, is misleading people.