US President Donald Trump has urged British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to tackle illegal migration, warning that the issue is “killing” the United Kingdom.
Speaking to GB News on Wednesday, the US president said Burnham would eventually have to address immigration despite initially avoiding the subject after taking office.
“He’s going to have to mention it because it’s killing your country,” Trump told the broadcaster.
“I know Starmer did very little about it, and they’re coming from all over the world.
“They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from South America. They’re coming from different parts of Asia.
“They’re invading Europe,” he warned, adding, “It’s an invasion, and the UK is a prime suspect,” the US president opined.
Trump’s statement came hours after more than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel into Britain, according to the report.
According to GB News, the arrivals reached British waters when people smugglers launched 11 small boats from various sites along the French and Belgian coasts, with departures recorded from beaches ranging from Belgium to the French town of Dieppe.
The comments came as Burnham’s government faced further scrutiny over its plans for dealing with refugee seekers.
When asked earlier this week if the Prime Minister wanted asylum hotels shuttered, a Downing Street spokesperson said, “The work on that continues,” adding that there was “no change in that work that’s being carried out by the Home Secretary in her department.”
According to Home Office numbers cited in the BBC, 172 persons crossed the Channel on Wednesday during Burnham’s first week in office, followed by 366 on Thursday in three boats and another 103 on Friday.
Trump also discussed his initial meetings with the new British leader, saying Burnham faced big hurdles.
On Burnham’s first day in Downing Street, the US president stated that the British leader faced a “big job ahead of him.”
He also highlighted a recent phone discussion between them, saying, “A phone talk between the two was interesting and went quite well.” I wished Prime Minister Burnham, “Good luck and Godspeed!”
According to the report, the two leaders’ relations have been generally steady in Burnham’s first few weeks in office, while North Sea oil development has arisen as a potential source of contention.
The day before Burnham succeeded former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Trump charged him to expand North Sea oil drilling, saying it would “make the United Kingdom, from a poverty-stricken disaster, to one of the richest countries anywhere in the world.”
The report also stated that sources in Washington expressed concern over Burnham’s appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary, citing his previous criticisms of Trump.
According to the source, efforts to enhance UK-US relations are ongoing behind the scenes, while Burnham has supported Britain’s policy of allowing US forces to use British military bases for “defensive” attacks related to the confrontation with Iran.
