GB News presenter Stephen Dixon challenged Conservative MP Richard Holden over the party's migration stance during a recent interview, suggesting the Tories were adopting policies similar to those of Reform UK.

The exchange occurred against the backdrop of intensifying debate over Channel crossings and migration policy, with both major parties facing pressure to address record numbers of small boat arrivals.

Stephen Dixon asked the Shadow Paymaster: “Am I right in thinking the Tories are now pursuing a net zero policy for migration at the moment? I mean, that’s basically a Reform UK policy, isn’t it?”

Richard Holden told GB News: “I think we’ve been very clear. What we want to see is the UK deciding who comes to our country, and we will do that with an annual cap, decided here in Parliament.

Richard Holden said we need an "annual cap"

“Now, that might vary slightly from year to year, but I don’t think you can just say we’ll have a total zero policy.

“For example, my brother got married to an Italian girl, are we going to say to them, if they happen to want to marry later in the year, ‘Oh, you’ve got to move to Italy rather than come to the UK’? I don’t think that works.

“I think you’ve got to have a sensible, balanced policy, where we actually decide who comes into the UK and, crucially, who doesn’t. That’s what we want: a real deterrent in place for any illegal migrant, because it should be our sovereignty.

“They’re our borders, it should be our choice who comes to the UK and who doesn’t.

“I think if we can get to that point, the British people would say, ‘that’s fair enough.’

“What they don’t want is huge numbers. And they certainly don’t want to see illegal migrants. What they want is for us to be back in control, and that’s what we’re offering.”

Labour ministers are reportedly close to finalising a 'one in, one out' migrant exchange agreement with France, which could be announced within days.

The deal would see France accept returns of Channel migrants for the first time, but the UK would take an equal number of asylum seekers from France in exchange.

According to reports, Britain would accept migrants on a one-for-one basis, likely those with relatives already living in the country.

The Guido Fawkes blog, which first reported the imminent agreement, said negotiations were held up by disagreement over the percentage of arrivals to be swapped, with the UK seeking 40 per cent.

Migrants arriving in Dover GB News

This year has seen more than 18,000 migrants arrive via the Channel, a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018.

Wednesday saw 118 migrants reach Britain, bringing the total since Labour came to power to 41,760, representing a 34 per cent increase on the same period in 2023-24.

Sir Keir Starmer scrapped the Rwanda scheme as one of his first acts in office, replacing it with measures to boost law enforcement aimed at dismantling smuggling networks.

The borders watchdog chief, David Bolt, expressed doubts about Labour's approach on Tuesday, saying he was “not convinced” the plan would end the Channel crisis.