“Keir Starmer is determined to cover-up the consequences of mass migration. It’s why last night he forced Labour MPs to conceal the data about migrant crime, voting down our proposals to uncover the truth.”
This week in the House of Commons, Labour MPs voted against a Conservative amendment to the Sentencing Bill that would have forced the release of full migrant crime data.
The Conservative amendment, which was also backed by Reform UK’s Richard Tice, Lee Anderson, and Sarah Pochin, sought to ensure the British public could see the scale and nature of crimes committed by foreign nationals in the UK.
The proposal, set out in a new clause to the Bill, would have required courts to provide HM Courts and Tribunals Service with details of every sentence passed, including the offender’s nationality, country of birth, visa route, visa status, asylum status, and method of entry to the United Kingdom. The data would then be collated and published every three months.
Despite repeated promises of a “transparency revolution,” Keir Starmer ordered every Labour MP to vote against the amendment. It was an opportunity to deliver openness and honesty about the links between migration and crime, yet Labour chose secrecy.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said after the vote:
“Starmer promised a ‘transparency revolution’, but last night he forced every single Labour MP to vote against releasing the migrant crime data. Cover-up Keir can’t handle the truth about mass migration, and the British people will be less safe because of it.”
The government had briefed back in April that it would publish “crime tables” for migrants awaiting deportation, but six months later, there is still no sign of them. Labour’s decision to block the amendment means that information on foreign offenders will continue to be withheld from the public.
Jenrick continued: “Keir Starmer is determined to cover-up the consequences of mass migration. It’s why last night he forced Labour MPs to conceal the data about migrant crime, voting down our proposals to uncover the truth. And it’s why he resisted the rape gang inquiry and has allowed it to be manipulated, with attempts to change the scope and control the questions.
“The public deserves to know the truth about who is entering our country. And lawmakers need the truth so they can act on it and keep the public safe. Last night, every MP had a choice. They could have voted for our amendment, which would have compelled the Government to publish the migrant crime data. That means the background of offenders by their nationality, visa status, immigration status, and route of entry, recorded and released in every single criminal case. It would give us the full picture about crime and mass migration.
“Or, they could vote to continue the cover-up. Shamefully, Keir Starmer ordered his Labour MPs to do just that. Previously Starmer has campaigned for a ‘transparency revolution’, but yesterday he abandoned his long-held view and chose to block the crime data from being released.
“It’s because Starmer’s squeamish about confronting the negative consequences of mass migration. He’d rather foreign nationals continue to commit crime here than face up to the reality that extreme levels of immigration have caused immense harm to the country. It’s truly spineless behaviour.
“I’ve been calling for transparency on this issue for a long time. Revealing the truth on this issue is so important. It’s data that’s published openly in other European countries, like Denmark.
“As lawmakers, Starmer’s continuation of the cover-up means that we don’t have all the facts, facts which should be informing how we keep the public safe, and how we design our immigration system. Because of Starmer’s decision, policymakers can’t design a system that serves the interests of the public. He’s putting you at risk.”
Indicative data already suggests that there are major differences between migrant groups. Some, such as Albanians and Eritreans, have significantly higher crime rates than British citizens. Albanian nationals, for example, are 153 times more likely to be imprisoned for drug offences than British nationals. Others, like Indian or French nationals, have lower or similar conviction rates.
Jenrick said: “We need the full, verified data. That will allow a full and frank conversation about the clear risks of migration from certain countries. Yet Starmer refuses. He chooses to cover it up. The British people deserve so much better.”
The text of the defeated amendment stated that courts must provide HMCTS with information regarding the offence category, sentence length, and details of the sentenced individual, including nationality, sex at birth, country of birth, method of entry, visa route, visa status, and asylum status. The Secretary of State would then be required to publish the statistics at least once every three months.
Labour’s refusal to support the amendment has once again exposed the Party’s unwillingness to be transparent about the consequences of mass migration. While the Conservatives and Reform UK pushed for openness and accountability, Starmer’s Labour chose concealment and control.
For a party that once pledged honesty with the public, Labour’s actions this week confirm that Keir Starmer’s “transparency revolution” is nothing more than an empty slogan.
