After Nearly 50,000 Migrants Stormed Spain’s Border, Andy Burnham Was Given a Serious Warning That Britain Must Make One Big Decision Before It’s Too Late

Nearly 50,000 migrants attempted to enter the Spanish territory of Ceuta on Thursday, raising fresh concerns about illegal migration across Europe and prompting renewed debate about Britain’s own border security.

The comments came during an interview on GB News, where Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said he believes the UK could eventually feel the effects of the large-scale movement of migrants. When asked whether some of those trying to enter Spain could later make their way to Britain, he replied that he feared it was possible.

The dramatic scenes unfolded in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa that shares a land border with Morocco. Spanish authorities responded by deploying military personnel after tens of thousands of migrants gathered near the border. Videos shared on social media appeared to show large groups of people swimming towards Ceuta’s beaches, while others tried to climb border fences in an effort to reach Spanish territory.

The developments have added to growing political arguments over illegal migration in the UK, where Channel crossings remain a major issue. Griffith criticised the UK Government’s financial support for French efforts to stop small boat crossings, arguing that despite millions of pounds being spent, the problem continues.

He claimed that French officers had been instructed not to stop boats carrying migrants and questioned whether the money being spent was producing meaningful results. Griffith argued that if the boats had been transporting valuable stolen property instead of migrants, French authorities would have acted much more quickly.

The Conservative MP said Britain needs what he described as a clear and comprehensive long-term strategy rather than relying on short-term measures. He argued that his party now believes the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), saying this would give Parliament greater control over immigration laws and prevent people who arrive in the country illegally from gaining a permanent right to remain.

According to Griffith, the current system creates incentives for migrants to travel through Europe and then attempt dangerous Channel crossings to reach Britain. He claimed that if people believe they will eventually be allowed to stay, receive public support and potentially gain citizenship, more migrants will continue making the journey.

During the discussion, GB News presenter Stephen Dixon challenged Griffith by pointing out that the Conservative Party was also unable to stop illegal migration during its years in government. Griffith responded that he was not trying to defend every decision made over the previous Conservative administrations, noting that he was not a member of those Cabinets and that much of the current Conservative leadership was also not responsible for those earlier policies.

Instead, he said the focus should be on developing a stronger immigration strategy based on legal advice and long-term reforms. He repeated his view that leaving the ECHR would be an important part of that approach, arguing that Britain needs greater freedom to introduce immigration laws without legal barriers.

Griffith also defended the previous Conservative Government’s Rwanda deportation plan, saying it was delayed by opposition from Labour politicians, members of the House of Lords, senior church figures and challenges within the courts. He argued that these obstacles prevented the policy from being fully implemented and said the experience showed why broader legal reforms would be necessary.

Looking back at the Conservatives’ time in office, Griffith admitted that too much attention had been placed on individual policies rather than creating a complete long-term strategy for tackling illegal migration. He added that if the current Government introduces measures that genuinely reduce illegal Channel crossings and strengthen border security, the Conservatives would be willing to support those proposals in Parliament.