Latest politics: Starmer vows to fight ‘vile’ people-smuggling gangs but reiterates red line he won’t cross

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on his feet in Glasgow, where he is addressing the Interpol General Assembly.

He begins by thanking those present and those serving in the police, intelligence and security services around the world.

“Too often, what you do goes unrecognized,” he says, adding, “It’s your work, your service that protects people from threats.”

Sir Keir confirms an increase in funding for Interpol projects, investing £6m this financial year.

“This includes support for improved data sharing and faster communications capabilities,” he says.

“Rogue Trade Must Be Eliminated”

The Prime Minister addresses the issue of “vicious smugglers who believe that human life can be trafficked, borders can be ignored and that despair, misery and hope are all emotions suitable for exploitation”.

He says this requires a “global response” on a scale “far beyond where we are now”.

“There is nothing progressive about turning a blind eye while men, women and children die in the Channel.”

Sir Keir says this is a “vile trade” that must be “stamped out wherever it thrives”.

The prime minister compares the crisis to terrorism

He adds: “I will work with anyone serious who can offer solutions to this – anyone – because without coordinated global action, it will not go away.

“And if we don’t bring all the powers we have to this, in the same way we do to terrorism, then we will struggle to bring these criminals to justice.”

Sir Keir says people-trafficking “should be seen as a global security threat similar to terrorism”.

“We need to combine resources, share intelligence and tactics and tackle the problem upstream, working together to shut down smuggling routes.”