00:00For the second time in a month, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has visited Kent,
00:05but this time to Dover to discuss the small boats.
00:09We're just going to be relentless. People want to see this issue addressed.
00:12I heard that on the doorsteps in Makerfield.
00:15But we also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well,
00:18because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs.
00:22So on every level, we've got to come at this.
00:25But his visit quickly drew criticism, with Kent County Council leader Lyndon Kim-Kerran
00:29questioning the Prime Minister's priorities in a post on social media.
00:33Meanwhile, Reform UK say that if they were elected,
00:36they would deploy Royal Navy ships to intercept small boats in the Channel and send back to France.
00:42Since becoming Prime Minister two weeks ago,
00:44over 2,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats.
00:48And the latest figures show the small boats crossing are down by 43%.
00:53Immigration is one of the biggest issues still debated in politics today.
00:57And during a recent visit to Dover, Prime Minister Andy Burnham gave his strongest message on the topic yet,
01:03saying that the new administration will be relentless in tackling the small boats.
01:07So now, for many people, the focus is shifting to whether or not the new Prime Minister can make good
01:13on his promise.
01:14I don't believe it.
01:16They're not relentless about anything except taxing people and taking more money off working people.
01:23I don't think he'll succeed unless he has a great deal more help from the European nations.
01:32Obviously, France don't want them there, so they're quite happy for them to come over to us.
01:36I think it's like a massive diversion from what the real problems are.
01:42We want to misdirect our attention for how things are getting expensive,
01:50how hard life is getting, rather than taking responsibility for themselves.
01:55No one from Dover District Council or Reform were able to speak to me today.
01:59But as a strong supporter of Burnham's policies,
02:03Medway's own council leader says the government's focus is the right one.
02:07I mean, it was only last year that Nigel Farage was on the clifftops himself singing the same message.
02:11So how was this any different?
02:13Well, look, of course, we are in governance.
02:15We've got to deliver.
02:16And if you look at the numbers, both the numbers of prosecutions,
02:19but the number of people travelling across the English Channel,
02:23the numbers crossing are down, the numbers being enforced are up.
02:26For Kent, when many of these crossings first reach British shores,
02:30the Prime Minister insists a new approach will work.
02:33But with small boats continuing to arrive,
02:35pressure remains to turn those promises into results.
02:39Nayla Mahamud for KMTV in Dover.
Comments