The Prime Minister said the number of failed asylum seekers being sent home has increased to 16,400 since his party came to power - referencing the figure as he defended his plan to introduce sanctions on people smugglers.
But the comment left his critics furious.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the vast majority of those being deported "have nothing to do with small boat arrivals".
He added: "This Government is only returning tiny numbers who entered the UK by small boat, amounting to about 5% of arrivals.
This story is from the January 10, 2025 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the January 10, 2025 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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