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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Anger as ministers shell out £10,000 a DAY on consultants to stop small boats

Ministers are shelling out more than £10,000 a DAY on consultants trying to stop small boat crossings as Suella Braverman struggles to get a grip.

The Government has agreed a 12 month contract with consultancy giant Deloitte, which will cost taxpayers a massive £3.9 million.

The firm was commissioned to provide "transitional and transformation leadership services" in January after PM Rishi Sunak pledged to end dangerous Channel crossings.

Critics say the contract raises questions about leadership in the Home Office - with the Government accused of employing expensive consultants to "do their job for them".

Labour shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock told The Mirror: "The Conservatives have broken the asylum system and are out of ideas on how to stop small boats - as their unworkable and illegal new asylum legislation shows.

"Because of this they have resorted to chasing headlines in the press and paying expensive consultants taxpayer cash to do their jobs for them. The public have had enough."

Suella Braverman is under pressure to deal with small boat crossings after Rishi Sunak made it a top pledge (PA)

It is unclear what the consultants are expected to do, as most of the contract published online has been redacted.

The Government said Deloitte was employed to support the Small Boats Operational Command Continuous Improvement team - but said the company would not be introducing any new technology.

The Home Office said its contracts are designed to ensure the "best value" for tax payers.

Last year 45,728 migrants arrived in the UK in small boats, according to Home Office data. This is up from 28,526 the year before.

Mr Sunak has claimed stopping such crossings is a top priority, but Labour has accused him of chasing headlines and failing to put forward real solutions.

Ms Braverman has refused to be drawn on when she expects small boat crossings to stop, telling the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “It's going to be pretty obvious when we've succeeded in achieving that. I'm not going to put clear dates on anything.

Labour's Stephen Kinnock has hit out at the Government over spending on consultants (Getty Images)

“We've got to take the steps as they evolve. We've just announced new sites this week.

“So we have to abide by various timelines in Parliament or in court. As quickly as possible is my ambition.”

Her cruel Illegal Immigration Bill - which would see asylum seekers including children deported without having their case heard - is currently being examined by Parliamentary committees.

And Ms Braverman continues to maintain her plan to deport refugees to Rwanda is going ahead despite legal challenges, but hasn't given a timetable.

Mr Kinnock said: "Labour has a comprehensive five point plan to prevent the small boats crossings and fix the broken asylum system, starting with a new elite police unit to tackle criminal gangs upstream and the negotiation of a new deal with the EU based on the safe return of channel crossers and a carefully managed family reunion pathway."

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