'Botched Brexit deal hit our ability to end small boats crisis'

Starmer says Johnson's agreement with the EU should be improved on

- DAVE BURKE

KEIR Starmer says that Boris Johnson's bungled Brexit deal has hampered the UK's ability to tackle the small boats crisis.

The Prime Minister said the agreement cost Britain its ability to lead operations against people smugglers.

Mr Starmer will this week call on European leaders to agree a new security pact, which would restore access to real-time intelligence networks the UK was cut adrift from.

The PM, who is urging world leaders to help win the battle against trafficking gangs, also vowed tough powers to treat people smugglers like terrorists.

In a reprimand for Mr Johnson, Mr Starmer said the Brexit deal failed to ensure the UK retained strong enough powers to protect its borders.

The PM told the Mirror: "When it comes to security, we can do better than the deal we've got, and that's what we're pursuing.