Rishi Sunak has faced criticism after accusing Labour of being complicit with criminal gangs involved in smuggling immigrants into the UK. Senior Labour MPs have condemned the Prime Minister’s comments, which were made in a tweet from his official account. The tweet shared a link to a Daily Mail article alleging that lawyers have helped people claim asylum based on false evidence. Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry described Sunak’s remarks as “desperate” and “pathetic,” while Labour frontbencher Jim McMahon called them “unbecoming.” Tory figures, including Tim Montgomerie, founder of the Conservative Home website, also criticized the Prime Minister’s comments. However, Sunak’s tweet did receive support from some Conservative MPs. Labour opposes the government’s Illegal Migration Bill, citing concerns about capacity, returns agreements with the EU, and the failure of the Rwanda deportation scheme. The party has proposed its own plan to reduce small boat crossings, including the establishment of a cross-border police unit to combat criminal smuggling gangs. Sunak’s tweet came after reports that he plans to launch a more aggressive political campaign targeting Labour’s lead in the polls. Labour’s campaigning has also faced scrutiny, with accusations of “gutter politics” leveled at party leader Keir Starmer.
