LABOUR have vowed to “ramp up” deportations as a top minister admitted she was “worried about the rise of the far right”.
Shabana Mahmood, who was elevated to Home Secretary at the beginning of the month, told ITV the numbers of foreign offenders being sent to France under a “one in, one out” deal was just a “small first step”.
So far, four asylum seekers have been deported under the deal, most recently a person from Afghanistan.
The summer was marked by a wave of protests against asylum seekers, focused on the hotels the Government uses to house them, and culminated in a massive rally in London organised by Tommy Robinson.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, in her first in-depth interview since taking the role, told ITV News that the footage, seen 'out of context,' 'doesn't look good'. She told @PaulBrandITV: 'It has long been the case that we do offer financial packages as an incentive to people to… pic.twitter.com/JF7YqPwVIR
— ITV News (@itvnews) September 24, 2025
Asked about the rise of the far-right, Mahmood said: “I’m very worried about some of the rhetoric.
“I think it is getting out of control and I worry about where that may lead.
“As politicians, we should hold the line on what is patriotism and what is nationalism, there is a line there – I know where it is.
“If we have got control of our borders, I think that creates the space for fundamental, decent, British people to be welcoming of those who come to our country and to contribute.”
The returns agreement with France is intended to allow the Government to deport migrants who arrive in Britain by illegal means – such as small boats – to be sent back across the Channel while allowing in asylum seekers currently living in France.
But it has faced scrutiny after deportation flights were cancelled because of legal challenges. On Tuesday, the Home Office failed to overturn a court ruling which gave an Eritrean man a temporary block on his deportation to France.
Mahmood failed to say how many people she hoped to see deported through the deal with France, only saying that it would succeed if it acted as a deterrent to stop people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel.
She said: “You start with a small first step and then you ramp up, which is exactly what we're going to be doing.
“I want us to get to a point where the numbers that are being removed are acting as a deterrent and stop people getting on the boats in the first place.”
Mahmood was also forced to defend a scheme whereby people appealing against deportations are offered cash to drop their cases against the Government, called the Facilitated Returns Scheme.
During her interview with ITV, she was shown footage the broadcaster had filmed during a deportation flight of 47 foreign criminals to Romania where “several migrants” were given bank cards pre-loaded with money.
She said: “Out of context, it's not great, it doesn't look good.
“A voluntary removal is actually cheaper for the British taxpayer.
“It has long been the case that we do offer financial packages as an incentive to people to drop their claims and drop the attempts they make to stay in our country, and to board a flight and leave.”
