21/04/2025
How many people has Labour ‘deported’?
1. The claim made by Labours is that either 19,000 or 24,000 people have been “deported” since Labour came to power.
In fact, these figures refer to the total number of immigration returns (up to 31 January or 22 March respectively), however, not all of these were officially classed as deportations. The majority involved people who left the UK voluntarily.
2. The second claim made by Labour is that it has sent home 19,000 people with no right to be here in its first nine months in government, which is more than was achieved in any year in the last parliament.
However, Labour returned 19,000 people in around seven months, and 24,000 in just under nine, but neither figure is higher than the 26,730 returns in 2023. Labour’s quarterly returns rate is higher than at any point in the previous parliament, however.
Dame Angela Eagle MP, said on March 31st, 2025
“We have already deported, sent home, 19,000 people with no right to be here.”
“We’ve sent 19,000 people with no right to be here back in the first nine months we’ve had as a government, which is more than was achieved in any year in the last parliament.”
The Independent, 31st March, 2025
“Starmer ‘angry’ about illegal migration as he reveals 24,000 deportations under Labour”
In recent weeks we’ve seen several claims about immigration returns since Labour came to office which don’t appear to reflect what published data shows.
Several Labour politicians, including border security minister Dame Angela Eagle—and some media have referred to the total number of immigration returns as the number of people being “deported”. That’s not quite right according to Home Office data, not all returns are classed as “deportations” and in fact most involve people leaving the UK voluntarily.
Dame Angela also claimed last week that the government had “sent 19,000 people with no right to be here back in the first nine months” of Labour being in office, and that this “is more than was achieved in any year in the last parliament”.
It’s not entirely clear what comparative figures this claim refers to, but it doesn’t appear to be correct. The 19,000 figure refers to returns up to 31 January, while more recent figures show there were 24,103 returns in the almost-nine months up to 22 March. Neither figure is higher than the 26,730 returns in 2023. Returns in Labour’s first six months were higher than in any two consecutive quarters in the previous parliament, however.
Full detail is available on Shipley Conservative's website. https://www.shipleyconservatives.org.uk/news/labour-change-jargon
Source – Fullfact.org
