GMB sparks fury over migrant coverage as fans cry 'this is madness'

Fans of Good Morning Britain were outraged as hosts Ed Balls and Susanna Reid shared the news of a new migrant policy, helping to tackle those coming into the UK on small boats across the Channel on Tuesday. The presenters shared that the new "one in, one out" migrant deal between the UK and France has come into force.

This means some people crossing the channel in small boats can be detained and sent back to the continent, in exchange for taking an asylum seeker who hasn't tried to cross here illegally. Ed then asked news correspondent Nick Dixon, who was live on a beach in Dover, when we should expect the changes to happen. He replied: "The Government has said that it will be operationally ready to get moving with this pilot scheme in a few days' time, which presumably means by the end of the week. It will be able to start the process, at least, of sending migrants back to France and in addition to that, have the lawyers ready as well to fend off any legal challenges that come their way to try and derail and delay this scheme, as has happened, of course, with the Rwanda plan."

He continued to explain the details of the deal as he said that "for every return, one eligible person in France can apply online to come legally to the UK."

The Government has also said that it is "willing to fight court cases" during the pilot phase and France will also boost coastal patrols, arrests and boat interceptions to try and disrupt criminal gangs.

However, Nick went on to say that there are already concerns about the plans and what "meaningful impact" the scheme will actually have. The Conservatives have shared that they believe that the pilot scheme will make no difference whatsoever.

There have been reports of only 50 illegal migrants being sent back each week, as Nick said: "Which, to be honest, is a very small number given the scale of this problem."

Fans of the show rushed to social media to share their thoughts on the crisis. Posting to X/Twitter, one declared: "This is madness."

Another fumed: "Pointless exercise. Until it is made a criminal offence to enter the country illegally nothing will ever change and definitely not under this @UKLabour govt. #GMB."

One more added: "Another pointless gimmick so a rotten government that has no intention of stopping illegal immigration, can pretend it's doing something."