UK election latest: Starmer makes ‘hugely important’ visit to Scotland as he begins first UK tour

The new Minister of Interior did not hesitate to take up her duties – just a few days after her appointment, she established the promised Border Protection Command (BSC).

The BSC was one of the pillars of Sir Keir Starmer’s manifesto – Labour’s solution to the small boat crisis.

At least part of the funding for this is to come from the £75 million earmarked for the now cancelled Rwanda programme.

Yvette Cooper has outlined the first steps towards the creation of the BSC, which will “strengthen UK border security and disrupt the smuggling gangs that make millions from small boat crossings”.

The plan is to rapidly recruit an “exceptional leader,” which will begin tomorrow.

“We can’t go on like this”

The new recruit, who is due to take up his post in the coming weeks, will report directly to the office of the Interior Minister.

Their role will be to provide “strategic direction” to a range of agencies including the National Crime Agency, police, immigration services and the Border Force.

Ms Cooper is also preparing draft legislation to give the BSC new counter-terrorism powers and has commissioned an investigation into the routes and tactics used by smuggling gangs.

She added that it would be a “significant step forward” in the UK’s efforts to tackle organised immigration crime, by cooperating “across Europe” and working with prosecutors on the continent.

“We can no longer tolerate this,” she said, adding that the BSC would represent a “significant modernisation” of the immigration system Labour inherited.