Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins and housing minister Matthew Pennycook clashed over Labour’s approach to dealing with illegal migrants

Charlotte Hawkins clashed with Matthew Pennycook (Image: ITV)

Charlotte Hawkins delivered a blistering verdict as she clashed with Labour’s Matthew Pennycook on Good Morning Britain. The housing minister was grilled about how Labour are tackling the number of small boats arriving in the UK, after Zia Yusuf appeared on the programme and outlined Nigel Farage’s plans for the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants if he wins the next election.

The presenter claimed Labour’s approach to the situation is leading people to vote Reform. “You not being tough enough on immigration is pushing people towards Reform UK, isn’t it?,” Charlotte declared.

Pennycook hit back: “No. We are taking the practical, hard-headed, admittedly unglamorous steps required to bring this global challenge under order.”

The MP claimed Reform’s plans are “not serious” before hitting out at their pledge to negotiate return agreements with countries across the world including Afghanistan and Iran.

“What happens if Afghanistan don’t agree to a returns agreement? Where to the planes go? Or if they do agree, how much are we going to be paying them for the privilege?” the politician snapped back.

Charlotte interjected: “He said there would be a financial incentive to either send them back there or to another country.”

Pennycook questioned what would happen if those return agreements aren’t negotiated, pointing out that the Labour government has negotiated a “groundbreaking” pilot scheme with France.

He fumed: “The idea that Nigel Farage and the circus that are Reform come in and negotiate returns agreements that are operable with some of the most hostile regimes in the world, I think frankly is for the birds.”

Turning it back to Labour, Charlotte said: “People at home who are worried about the situation and they see the statistics, record numbers crossing in small boats and the Labour government not doing enough to tackle that.”

Pennycook disagreed, leading Charlotte to ask: “You think you’re doing enough?”