Council Spending on Migrants Sparks Controversy Amidst Border Security Discussions

Reform's Zia Yusuf criticized the reported spending, calling it a "betrayal of the taxpayer." This assessment followed a "DOGE inquiry" conducted by Reform after their local election victories in May, focusing on council spending. A significant portion of the expenditures was attributed to Kent County Council, which manages areas where small boat migrants frequently arrive, such as Dover.

The inquiry revealed that small boat migrants had access to activities like circus visits, driving lessons, and crazy golf, all funded by taxpayers. The audit also uncovered spending at luxury department store Fortnum and Mason, as well as purchases from retailers like Argos, Currys, and Amazon.

Children who cross the Channel are initially under the care of Kent County Council, with some later relocated across the country. The inquiry found that approximately 2,500 children enter Kent's care system annually.

Specific expenditures by Kent County Council included £279.91 at the Santus Circus for outings for child migrants, £6,055 at a swimming pool, and £55.50 at Mr Mulligans Crazy Golf. The council also spent nearly £300 on driving lessons. Further spending included £102.95 at Fortnum and Mason, sourced from the council's Social Fund, and £162,077 at Amazon, with 2,966 transactions related to asylum seekers. Additionally, the council spent £11,521 at Currys and £70,056 at Argos.

Kent Council stated that most of the spending was for unaccompanied asylum seeker children or asylum seekers aged between 18 and 25 who had left the care system but remained the council's responsibility.

Other councils also reported spending. Nottinghamshire County Council spent £38,007 at McDonald's and £7,143 at Domino's, primarily from the children and education budget. Doncaster spent £16,659 at McDonald's, with 93% coming from the children and education budget.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to discuss border security with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Sir Keir Starmer has characterized illegal migration as a "global problem."

Sir Keir stated that the visit will include discussions on collaborative efforts to prosecute criminal networks and prevent people smuggling to the UK. He emphasized the international scope of these criminal gangs.

According to the Home Office, 353 people crossed the English Channel by small boat on Friday, a decrease from the 573 who crossed on Thursday. More crossings were observed on Saturday, but the full figures are pending.

Border Force vessels and the RNLI responded to multiple reports of boats crossing the Channel on both Thursday and Friday.

Under a recent agreement between the Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron, the UK will be able to return migrants to France in exchange for asylum seekers with ties to Britain. This "one in, one out" deal is expected to begin on a pilot basis, pending final legal verification from the EU.