by A.P.
Even the left-wing, pro-mass immigration Labour party is now taking Boris Johnson’s government to task over its lax border controls, as people continue to fly into the country despite the punishing internal lockdown on local people and businesses.
“The Home Secretary rarely misses a chance to talk tough. That’s why it’s so surprising that she is ducking the chance to explain why Britain’s borders are still open whilst the country is locked down, putting at risk the vaccine rollout with the threat of new variants entering the UK,” said Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds, in reference to his opposite number in government, Priti Patel.
“More dither and delay is unacceptable. The British people demand we protect our borders — we must act now,” said the opposition politician — a stunning rebuke for the Tories, who have styled themselves with no great accuracy as the party of controlled immigration and stronger borders in contrast to Labour, which has historically championed large-scale inflows and putting the brakes on deportations.
“People are absolutely incredulous as to how the country is closed yet our borders are open,” one Labour party source told The Times.