Real Progress on Illegal Migration, But More Work Ahead

Since coming into office, the Labour government has removed 58,500 people with no legal right to remain in the UK. That is the highest number of removals in a decade and a clear sign that, for the first time in many years, the system is starting to move in the right direction.

Let’s be clear. This does not mean the issue is fixed. It isn’t. The challenges around illegal migration are complex, deeply rooted, and have been badly mishandled for far too long. Years of chaos, gimmicks and failed policies left the system broken, costly and unfair on everyone involved.

What matters now is that there is finally a government taking the issue seriously, focusing on enforcement that actually works, restoring order to the system, and dealing with cases rather than endlessly kicking problems down the road.

This progress is down to clear leadership and a renewed focus on competence. Huge credit is due to Shabana Mahmood and the team around her for getting a grip on a system that was allowed to spiral out of control for years. It takes time to undo that level of damage, but these figures show that change is already happening.

Labour’s approach is about being firm but fair. That means tackling illegal migration properly, enforcing the rules, speeding up decisions, and ending the expensive limbo that benefits no one. It also means moving away from headline-chasing stunts and towards policies that deliver real outcomes.

There is still a long way to go. No one is pretending otherwise. But after years of failure, this marks a turning point. We are seeing action where there was once inertia, and progress where there was once paralysis.

Over the coming months, we expect to see further improvements as reforms bed in and the system continues to stabilise. This is what responsible government looks like: not quick fixes, but steady, serious progress in the national interest. Anna.