Home Office ministers and civil servants are facing criticism over plans to allocate nearly £4.5 million towards electric car chargers for government buildings, while a significant number of migrants continue to arrive via small boat crossings in the English Channel.
The spending, intended to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles within the central government fleet by 2027, has been labeled as a misallocation of resources by political opponents. Critics argue that funds should be prioritized for addressing the ongoing migrant crisis.
Home Office minister Sarah Jones confirmed in a written parliamentary question that over £500,000 was spent on installing electric car chargers in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The department intends to increase this spending to £1 million annually until 2029, bringing the total projected expenditure to £4.4 million.
Jones stated that this investment is necessary to facilitate the charging of electric fleet vehicles used by operational units such as Immigration Enforcement and Border Force, aligning with the government's target for its central fleet to be zero-emission by the end of 2027. The costs include design, installation, and associated legal fees.
However, the plans have drawn sharp condemnation from the Conservative Party. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the Home Office, stating that the current administration has "no idea how to control our borders" and is "wasting time and money on electric car charging points." He urged the Home Secretary to focus on border control, advocating for policies such as leaving the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants.
Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden echoed these sentiments, questioning why millions are being spent on EV infrastructure when borders are under pressure. He asserted that Conservative priorities would be to secure borders and enhance national safety.
The criticism comes as arrivals continue, with approximately 250 migrants arriving on three boats on Monday, bringing the total to nearly 3,500 since Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office just over a month prior. In recent weeks, larger vessels, some carrying over 100 migrants, have been arriving, indicating a shift in smugglers' tactics. One vessel last week carried 230 migrants, surpassing previous records.
According to data from the French maritime prefecture of the Channel, 15 boats carrying over 100 people and one boat carrying over 200 people have attempted crossings this year. Since July 2024, when the Labour party came to power, over 80,000 migrants have arrived on small boats in the Channel.
The Labour party has dismissed calls to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, instead focusing on efforts to disrupt smuggling operations. Prime Minister Burnham has indicated a review of tactics to address the rise in the use of large dinghies, as the average number of migrants per vessel has more than doubled over the past five years.