UK politics live: Starmer completes reshuffle as new home secretary faces small boat Channel crossings crisis – UK Times

Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf described Boris Johnson as “one of the worst prime ministers in British history” and accused him of betraying Brexit voters.

Reform UK’s head of policy told Sky News the former Conservative leader would never be welcome in his party.

“We certainly would not welcome Boris Johnson – that’s never going to happen,” he said.

“He threw open our borders. The Boris wave, which is millions and millions of non-EU migrants flooding into the country post-Brexit, betrayed every single person that voted Brexit.

“Frankly, he was one of the worst prime ministers in British history.”

Shabana Mahmood met the head of Scotland Yard on Saturday to receive a briefing on the policing operation in response to protests in London.

“Supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group are not the same thing,” she said.

“An honour to visit Sir Mark (Rowley) and the Metropolitan Police to see them at work policing protests yesterday.”

Almost 900 people were arrested at a central London rally protesting against the banning of Palestine Action as a terror group, the force said earlier.

Sir Keir Starmer has completed a wide-ranging Government reshuffle.

The final appointments made were:

– Martin McCluskey as minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

– Keir Mather as a transport minister.

– Jake Richards as justice minister and assistant whip, and Nesil Caliskan, Lilian Greenwood, Christian Wakeford and Sir Nick Dakin as Government whips.

– Stephen Morgan and Claire Hughes also become Government whips, while Mark Ferguson, Claire Hughes, Gregor Poynton, Imogen Walker, Jade Botterill and Deirdre Costigan become assistant whips.

– Lord Collins of Highbury has been made a Government whip while remaining as Deputy Leader of the Lords.

– Former transport minister Mike Kane, former climate minister Kerry McCarthy, former whip Jeff Smith and former assistant whip Gerald Jones have left the Government.

Some 1,097 migrants crossed the Channel in 17 boats on Saturday, bringing the total in 2025 so far to 30,100, Home Office figures show.

It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 30,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018.

Last year, the figure was not passed until October 30 and in 2023 it was never reached as crossings totalled 29,437 for the whole year.

In 2022, the number was reached on September 21.

Shabana Mahmood said the first migrant returns will begin “imminently” under a deal with France after Home Office figures showed small boat crossings in the Channel have passed 30,000 this year.

The new Home Secretary said: “These small boats crossings are utterly unacceptable and the vile people smugglers behind them are wreaking havoc on our borders.

“Thanks to our deal with France, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France and I expect the first returns to take place imminently.

“Protecting the UK border is my priority as Home Secretary and I will explore all options to restore order to our immigration system.”

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, has accused Labour of “piling more misery on us”, as a week of Tube strikes are set to begin in London.

In a post on X she wrote: “Last year Keir Starmer put up taxes on struggling businesses, but gave inflation-busting pay rises to unions, promising to end strikes.

“A year later doctors are voting to strike for the second time this summer and London tube drivers walking out, piling more misery on us.

“Labour have completely mismanaged the economy. Conservatives will fix their mess by getting spending under control and living within our means.”

Sir Keir Starmer joined King Charles at church in Scotland .

The prime minister and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer were pictured arriving at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral on Sunday morning.

Prayers were said for the Duchess of Kent and to mark the third anniversary of the King’s Accession.