Sir Keir Starmer dedicated just ten words to tackling illegal migration in his speech at the Labour Party Conference.
In an address which ran for nearly an hour, Starmer used just one sentence to explain the party’s approach to illegal migration.
The Labour leader said: “The movement of people, criminal gangs who exploit their vulnerability”, when discussing “challenges we must confront”.
Hitting out at the speech, Conservative Party Chairman Greg Hands said Labour has “nothing to say”.
Hands said: “Once again Sir Keir Starmer showed he would take the easy way out on Britain’s long-term challenges.
“On two of the biggest issues facing our country, Labour has nothing to say.
“Just as Rachel Reeves failed to mention inflation once in her speech, Sir Keir failed to say anything about how he would tackle illegal immigration.”
He added: “Instead, he committed Labour to more borrowing, which would increase inflation, and reversing Rishi Sunak’s more proportionate approach to net zero, forcing millions of families to pay up to £15,000 to upgrade their homes.
“Sir Keir just offers more of the same short-term political decision-making of the last 30 years that has failed Britain – all glitter, no substance.
“Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives are working to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats. And only Rishi Sunak will take the long-term decisions needed to build a brighter future.”
But a Labour source said the party’s missions are “underpinned by national security and our borders”.
They said the party has made a “firm commitment to smashing criminal gangs and ending the small boat crossings”, adding: “We made a specific trip to Europol to set out a concrete plan and deal with it.”
Addressing the Labour Party Conference, Starmer said: “The world is becoming a more volatile place.
“Revolutions in energy, science, technology are reshaping the global economy. The race is on for the new jobs, new industries, new supply chains that will emerge.
“Climate change is a recipe for instability – we’ve seen that on our TVs all summer.
“Terrorism. The movement of people. Criminal gangs who exploit their vulnerability.
“They’re all challenges we must confront. And through all this, because of all these democratic rules, democratic values, democratic certainties are under attack.