The spiked podcast 358: ‘We’ve lost control’ | Former UK border chief speaks out
May 7, 2025
Tony Smith, former head of the UK Border Force and current managing director of Fortinus Global, shares his insights on the UK’s escalating border crisis. He discusses the record migrant arrivals and how current judicial practices, influenced by human-rights laws, undermine effective deportation efforts. Smith argues that the asylum policy has become skewed, prioritizing criminals and complicating enforcement for Border Force staff. He highlights the urgent need for a policy that reflects public sentiment and ensures a fair immigration process.
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Legal Hurdles Block Deportations
- The UK asylum system is hindered by legal frameworks that empower courts to block deportations on human rights grounds.
- This has created almost insurmountable obstacles for border enforcement to remove illegal entrants.
Judicial Overreach in Immigration Law
- Judicial overreach has broadened human rights interpretations, complicating immigration enforcement.
- Many judges have personal political motivations favoring more lenient immigration controls, affecting their rulings.
Original Asylum Policy vs. Today
- Asylum policy originally focused on managed resettlement of the vulnerable, not uncontrolled crossings.
- Many crossing illegally have already been rejected asylum seekers in other countries, exploiting a loophole in the legal system.