BBC Breakfast viewers ‘can’t watch’ show’s ‘sick’ migrant report

BBC Breakfast viewers were left fuming over a report into small boat crossings, as the programme’s chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman explained Labour’s latest plan to tackle illegal immigration. With more than 20,000 people crossing in small boats in the first part of 2025 – a higher number than ever – fans were turning off their TVs.

Zeffman explained: “Labour announced back in January that the government’s hope is that now enacting these measures will begin to make a difference. This is an issue of huge concern among people I speak to in government. Obviously in and of itself, as a company policy issue, but also for the Labour Party, they want to show that they can deal with small boat crossings and with illegal immigration as a measure of competence.

“It’s always worth reflecting on this issue, the numbers. In the first half of this year, more than 20,000 people crossed the English Channel, made that perilous journey in small boats. That is higher than ever at this point of the year and that is why the government, I think, is putting more effort behind displaying to the public what it is trying to do to stop this.”

He went on: “They also know that there is public anger that you see, particularly in some areas, about the inability of successive governments to find a way to reduce these crossings. So it is something I think you can expect the government to talk about more over the course of the summer and talk about how they hope to confront these things.

“We’ve had a response through from the Conservative Party about this announcement – the shadow home secretary does not support this, he says, ‘The truth is you don’t stop the Channel crossings by freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus.’”

One furious viewer tweeted in response: “I can’t watch…”

Another social media user said: “The BBC refusing to state that [the] government is allowing and promoting these crossings is sick!”

While another said: “Will you actually report on what the illegals are doing? Or are you team Keir?”