Andy Burnham has been told to set out his immigration plans after tens of thousands of African migrants stormed Spain in what he described as a “concerning situation”.
Speaking to GB News, HuffPost journalist Kevin Schofield urged the Prime Minister to act, as his priorities on the crisis remain “unclear”.
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On Thursday, 60,000 Moroccan migrants swam and charged into the Spanish North African exclave, with the shocking scenes sparking outrage across Europe.
“I know people will see those scenes and want something to be done,” Mr Burnham said.
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“What I have done is keep the current Home Secretary in place, because the plan she has implemented has started to make a difference.”
Ms Mahmood has pledged to get to grips with Britain’s migrant crisis, despite protestations from Labour’s backbenches.
She was one of the few of Sir Keir Starmer’s senior Cabinet ministers who remained in post after the former Manchester mayor swept to power.
“I think that’s setting out a clear message,” Mr Schofield said.
“The Home Secretary, she’s certainly no pinko liberal when it comes to immigration.”
Nevertheless, Mr Schofield felt the Labour leader had done little to identify what his own stance on immigration was.
“The Prime Minister needs to set out his stall pretty quickly so we know he’s not going to roll back on what the previous government had been trying to do.
“It is a perception among voters that he’s maybe a little bit soft when it comes to immigration.”
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The reporter said he did not necessarily believe this to be the case, but that ultimately remained to be seen.
“He hasn’t really said anything outright himself on immigration,” GB News host Stephen Dixon said.
He asked if the Prime Minister was using his appointment of Ms Mahmood to provide cover, asking: “Is he hiding behind her a little bit?”
“I think a little bit,” Mr Schofield responded.
“I think it’s one of the many areas where we still have to get a bit more meat on the bones on where Andy Burnham’s position lies.
“What are his intentions when it comes to immigration? How does he intend to keep these numbers coming down?”
Illegal crossings over the English Channel are lower than this time last year, but the first weeks of Mr Burnham’s premiership saw a surge of small boats heading for British shores.
“I will make a visit shortly to Border Force to see the situation myself,” the Prime Minister has said, suggesting an outline of his own policy could be forthcoming.
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