Dame Andrea Jenkyns says that illegal immigration costs the UK taxpayer £14 billion annually in public services, urging significant policy changes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, former Minister of State for Skills and Deputy Chairwoman of the European Research Group, highlighted the significant financial burden of illegal immigration on UK taxpayers during discussions with fellow MPs this week. Citing official statistics, Jenkyns estimated that the 1.2 million illegal immigrants residing in the UK cost the public over £14 billion annually in services, equating to nearly 10% of the National Health Service’s budget in England.
Jenkyns, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s immigration policies, described the situation as an “existential” risk that drains vital resources from the country. She criticized the government’s spending on illegal immigrants, including £482 million projected this year on immigration enforcement and nearly £8 million daily to accommodate migrants crossing the English Channel from France.
Further, the UK government has committed substantial funds for handling asylum claims abroad, including up to £370 million to Rwanda, where illegal immigrants would stay as their asylum claims are processed, and £478 million to France for stepping up enforcement against people smugglers. Jenkyns pointed out that despite these expenditures, the French Navy has been accused of aiding migrants in reaching UK waters, and France has been reluctant to accept returned migrants.
The discussion also touched on the costs not accounted for by mass legal migration, which has reached record highs under the current administration. Jenkyns called for a more assertive stance on illegal immigration, suggesting that the government withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights to regain full control over its borders and stop the interference from the Strasbourg court, which has previously thwarted the UK’s efforts to deport migrants.
As the debate over immigration intensifies, the UK faces increasing pressure to address the escalating costs and logistical challenges associated with its current policies, especially as illegal Channel crossings continue to rise, with recent figures showing a significant increase over the past years.
