Keir Starmer's 'big new idea is an amnesty for illegal immigrants', James Cleverly warns

Sir Keir Starmer “will never be on the side of the British people” and is planning an amnesty for illegal migrants, James Cleverly has warned.

The Home Secretary declared “nobody believes” the Labour leader “wants to control our borders”.

Sir Keir will on Friday unveil plans for a new Border Security Command to snare people smuggling gangs risking tens of thousands of lives. This will bring together MI5, the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and CPS teams into the same place for the first time.

But Labour believe teams will not be drawn away from their existing roles because the party wants to hire another 1,000 officers, prosecutors and investigators.

The Daily Express understands this will allow the head of the BSC, expected to be a former police or military chief, or intelligence officer, to allocate more money to any one of these organisations to end the Channel crisis.

MI5 has specialist capabilities that none of the other agencies have, it is understood, and could be given extra cash to dedicate a team to hunting the smuggling gangs and feed intelligence back to the National Crime Agency under the proposed structure.

The Labour leader will “redirect” £75million from the budget for the Rwanda scheme to pay for the new Border Security Command. The party has vowed to scrap the Rwanda deportation plan.

But Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "Rather than starting the flights and stopping the boats, Sir Keir Starmer's big new idea is an amnesty for all illegal immigrants, scrapping our Rwanda plan even if it's working.

“Nobody believes Keir Starmer wants to control our borders when he previously said immigration controls are 'racist' and blocked the deportation of violent sexual offenders.

“Actions speak louder than words, Keir Starmer will never be on the side of the British people."

And Labour will create new counter-terrorism powers which will be used to go after the criminals launching boats bound for Britain.

Labour said it will expand powers contained in the Terrorism Act 2000 to “ensure enhanced stop and search, including personal searches, examination and seizure of mobile devices, and copying of data found on such devices.”

This could be used on anyone suspected of being a people smuggler.

Labour also wants to expand the use of search and seizure warrants, which would allow police to storm properties and seize items suspected of being involved in the Channel smuggling trade “before an offence has taken place”.

Officials added that “currently this power is unique to terrorism and activity related to state threats but Labour would extend this to organised crime”.

Smuggling suspects will also have their internet, banking and travel restricted through civil orders.

Almost 9,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel so far this year, an alarming rise compared to the same period last year.

Between January 1 and May 7 last year, some 6,549 migrants arrived in small boats.

Sir Keir will say on Friday: “Let’s be clear at the start – these are criminal enterprise we are dealing with. A business that pits nation against nation, thrives in the grey areas of our rules - the cracks between our institutions - where, they believe, they can exploit some of the most vulnerable people in the world with impunity.

“It’s a vile trade that preys on the desperation and hope it finds in its victims.

“It is also my firm belief, after years of experience in this area, that we also need new and stronger powers to enforce the law and bring these smugglers to justice.

“Powers that in some areas, counter-terrorism most obviously, we have enhanced in recognition of the dangers posed to our security. Powers, like Serious Crime Prevention Orders, that, as with would-be terrorists can be used pre-conviction with High Court approval, and that can limit the ability of the gangs to conduct their vile business – before arrest: shutting off internet access, closing back accounts, tracing their movements – using information provided by the intelligence services, or powers like stop and search at the border, or raiding and seizing intelligence - before an offence has taken place”.

“I know we use the term small boats, but these boats are not, for the most part, that small. The gangs now use dinghies that are on a scale way beyond anything you would see for legitimate recreational activity.

“We should be working with our European partners to seize those boats, and seize material here in the U.K. to collect further evidence.

“We should turn over every stone and use every reasonable power - that is my message to the smugglers: these shores will become hostile territory for you.”