Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, declaring he will “do nothing” to stop the small boat crossings into Britain.
Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK leader argued Mr Burnham has “no mandate” to lead the country.
Sitting down with GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope, Mr Farage said: “He has said explicitly more than one time he wants to make the biggest change in politics in 40 years. That is not the 2024 Labour manifesto.
“This man has no mandate whatsoever, it’s even dubious that he should be Prime Minister.”
The Reform leader pointed out Mr Burnham has failed to mention the migrant crisis “once” in his campaign both in Makerfield and since becoming the new Labour leader.
He said: “I haven’t heard Mr. Burnham talk once, either in the Makerfield campaign or now, about what he’s going to do to stop dangerous young men entering our country, and I suspect the answer is nothing.”
As Christopher argued that he mentioned “HMO Britain” in his Makerfield victory speech, Mr Farage hit back: “He’s trying to use our language, but what solution is he offering?
“Under him, the HMOs (houses of multiple occupancy) will go up, not down.”
Pushing back on Mr Farage, Christopher interjected: “That’s because he’s clearing out the hotels, that’s why.”
He responded: “Well, fine. But arguably, HMOs are worse because they’re in a street near you. They’re literally being put in the middle of residential areas.
“And that’s not to even start on crime, there’s not a week goes by we don’t hear of a very serious court case of somebody who’s entered illegally, who’s committed murder, rape, you name it.”
As Christopher argued that the trend of small boat crossings is “down”, Mr Farage hit back: “Whether two terrorists come in or one terrorist comes in, I would suggest to you the situation isn’t getting better.
“If I’d said to you six years ago, ‘only 25,000 young men in the first nine months of this year’, you’d have said ‘what are you talking about?’ The whole thing is unimaginable.”
Asked for his verdict on Shabana Mahmood remaining as Home Secretary, Mr Farage argued that although she has said some “great things” about tackling the crisis, her policies have been “watered down” by the Labour backbenchers.
He told GB News: “Everything’s being watered down because the backbenchers of the Labour Party simply won’t stick it. And the really big one for her was indefinite leave to remain.
“Now she picked up on a big statement that Zia (Yusuf) and I had made to say the Boris wave should not automatically get indefinite leave to remain, and for people at home, that means if you get it, not only can you stay, you get full benefits and the rights to family reunion.
“Now, she talked about kicking the can down the road and it being 10 years till they got it, not the five years that we’re coming up to now, but I think whatever she feels in her heart on this, I don’t think her parliamentary party will allow her to do it.”
Criticising Mr Burnham’s path to No10, Mr Farage concluded that there should be a “general election”, and is “astonished” that the other parliamentary parties haven’t called for one alongside him.
He said: “I just don’t know what he’s going to do. But I repeat the point, the biggest change in politics in 40 years, and this man has no mandate.
“There should be a general election. There needs to be a general election. I’m astonished that neither the Lib Dems nor the Conservative Party can see that point and want one. I think the public increasingly do.
“Do you know what’s funny? Prime Ministers coming in and talking about 10 year plans when he’s the seventh in 10 years.”
