The failure of Britain and other European nations to control their borders is “eroding trust” in politicians and the state, Shabana Mahmood is to warn.
The Home Secretary is to make the admission as she hosts her counterparts from across the Western Balkans, as well as other European allies, in London at a summit aimed at striking new deals to tackle illegal migration.
She is expected to tell the gathering: “The public rightly expect that their government will be able to determine who enters their country, and who must leave.
“Today, in this country, and I know in many if not all of yours, that is not the case.
“And the failure to bring order to our borders is eroding trust not just in us as political leaders… But in the credibility of the state itself.”
Mahmood will tell the summit that only through international co-operation can Britain stem the flow of migrants arriving in small boats on its shores.
She is also expected to hit out at the Government’s political opponents, such as Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, accusing them of wanting to “turn inwards” and seek solutions to migration without the aid of other countries.
“Illegal migration is a shared threat which requires a strong, joined-up international response,” Mahmood will say.
She will add: “To those who think the answer to the challenges that we face is to turn inwards, or back away from international co-operation, I say that in coming together as we are today we will make all of our borders and our countries stronger.”
The Western Balkans, which includes the countries of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, has become increasingly important to tackling illegal migration across Europe.
According to the Home Office, the region is becoming a major transit route for people smugglers, as well as those trafficking drugs across borders.
Some 22,000 people were smuggled by gangs along routes through the Western Balkans in 2024, according to Home Office figures.
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power (Photo: Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty)The summit is expected to include discussion on how to crack down on the gangs, including through new co-operation between Britain, Europe, and border police forces in the region.
Director general of the National Crime Agency, Graeme Biggar, will join the gathering in the afternoon to discuss work on disrupting the supply chains of the gangs, and a session on combating violence against women and girls is also due to be held.
The Conservatives said Mahmood’s warning was “rich coming from a government that has lost control of our borders”.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, added: “The first nine months of this year have been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel.
“The Government is accommodating more illegal immigrants in hotels than at the election, and have only returned a paltry 26 to France – over a time period when 14,000 have arrived.
“This is clearly no deterrent.
“The Conservatives would leave the ECHR which will enable us to remove all illegal immigrants within a week of arrival.
“Then the crossings would soon stop.”
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