I warned about illegal migration when it was a trickle – years of failure have turned it into a flood

It seemed obvious to me in March 2020 that the trickle of migrants crossing the English Channel would turn into a flood. In an effort to raise the profile of the issue, I went to the Channel time and again to film the boats and to highlight these flimsy vessels being escorted by the French Navy to our 12-mile territorial line. I wrote many times in these pages that an invasion would occur unless we acted.

I was right, as 3,800 boats have since arrived on our shores carrying 125,000 illegal migrants, most of whom are single young males who discard their mobile phones and passports in the Channel. Their arrival outrages the majority of the population.

When they get here they are given a new phone and accommodated in four-star hotels or private house rentals. Health and dental services are immediately available, plus a weekly spending allowance, and in the end, most are allowed to stay.

Apart from the sheer unfairness of the situation, there is a far greater danger. Some of those that come here have previously been in war zones and been active participants. In 2015, Isis claimed that it would send their operatives across the Mediterranean. If even a small percentage of these illegal immigrants are still affiliated with Isis, Hamas, or other extremist groups, the risk to our national security is vast. We already have a problem as nearly a quarter of young British Muslims support jihadist sentiments, according to a JL Partners poll.

The Channel crossings must be designated a national security emergency. For two years, we have been promised a Rwanda plan and a solution. Despite a bill of £140 million, not one person has been forced to go.

It looks like immigration, legal and illegal, will dominate this general election campaign. The main reason for this snap election is because Sunak knew that his promise that the planes would start going to Rwanda from July simply would not work. Now it is clear that no planes will go before the July 4 election day. Remember, a single judge from the European Court of Human Rights was able to prevent a plane that was already on the tarmac from taking off. We will never solve this dangerous problem unless we leave the ECHR, and Starmer has no credibility in dealing with this issue whatsoever.

Brexit Britain should not be beholden to a European court. Our Prime Minister appears to be keen to engage in many televised election debates, and I challenge him to debate with me on this issue. If he refuses, that will confirm the fact that Sunak can’t stop the boats.