Labour Minister Shares Her View on the Illegal Migration “Invasion” During a Live TV Interview – Many May Not Agree

The Spanish government has deployed the military to help protect civilians after dramatic scenes showed large groups of migrants gathering at the border and reports of disorder. Videos shared online showed chaotic moments as thousands of people attempted to reach Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, raising fresh concerns about border security across Europe.

The developments came as Labour minister Louise Haigh appeared on GB News, where she rejected claims that Europe is facing an “invasion” of illegal migrants. During the interview, she defended the Government’s approach to tackling illegal migration and backed the work being carried out by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

When asked whether she believed Europe was experiencing an invasion because of the growing number of illegal crossings, Haigh said she would not use that description. She said the situation was clearly serious and understood why many people were worried about migrants entering countries illegally.

Haigh said it is unacceptable for people to cross borders illegally and insisted that the Government is working with other countries to stop migrants from leaving places such as France and Belgium before they reach the UK. She added that any action must be properly coordinated with international partners and carried out as quickly as possible.

The Labour minister also praised the Home Secretary’s work, saying the Government had already made significant progress compared with the situation it inherited in 2024. According to Haigh, tens of thousands of attempted small boat crossings have been prevented, although she admitted that much more still needs to be done.

GB News presenter Dawn Neesom challenged Haigh over her refusal to describe the events in Spain as an invasion, asking what word she would use instead. Haigh replied that while the scenes were deeply concerning, she did not believe they could be described as an invading force.

She said the situation involved large numbers of people trying to cross into another country rather than an organised military invasion. Haigh argued that the priority should be stopping illegal entry through effective policies instead of using strong political language.

She said solving the problem depends on practical action, including closer cooperation with France and other European countries, rather than heated rhetoric. She also praised Shabana Mahmood for working consistently on the issue over recent months and said the Government remains focused on reducing illegal crossings.

The interview also turned to the UK’s agreement with France to tackle people-smuggling gangs and reduce small boat crossings in the English Channel. When asked whether taxpayers should demand their money back because crossings are continuing, Haigh insisted that the agreement is producing results.

She pointed to Government figures which she said show that around 46,000 attempted small boat crossings have been prevented over the past two years. While she admitted it remains frustrating to see boats continue to arrive on UK shores, she argued that overall numbers have fallen significantly compared with the previous year.

Haigh said crossings are down by around 40 percent and described that as a major achievement considering the challenges the Government inherited. She acknowledged that there is still a great deal of work ahead but maintained that current policies are moving in the right direction.

The interview came as Spain faced one of its biggest border challenges in recent years. Reports said tens of thousands of migrants gathered around Ceuta on Thursday, prompting the Spanish government to deploy military personnel to help restore order and protect the area.

Responding to the events in Spain and the continuing pressure on the English Channel, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the Government was in contact with Spanish authorities to understand the situation and offer support where appropriate.

He said many people would see the images from the border and expect stronger action to be taken. Burnham argued that keeping the current Home Secretary in place had helped deliver improvements, pointing to lower crossing numbers and an increase in the number of people being removed from the UK.

Although he said progress had been made, Burnham admitted the Government recognises that more action is needed. He announced plans to visit Border Force officers on the south coast to assess the situation firsthand before discussing further measures with the Home Secretary to strengthen the UK’s response to illegal migration.