Boris Johnson denies responsibility for immigration surge

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has forcefully denied any responsibility for the post-Brexit surge in immigration, a phenomenon critics have dubbed the 'Boris wave.' In a combative interview, Johnson rejected the term as 'total rubbish' and insisted that his government had taken back control of the UK's borders through Brexit.

Johnson argued that during his first year in office, net migration fell to its lowest level in 40 years. He attributed the subsequent rise in immigration to external factors, including the perception that the UK was a 'leper colony' after Brexit, which he claimed led to a surge in arrivals. He maintained that the legal powers secured through Brexit gave the government the ability to cut immigration, but that those powers were not fully utilized by subsequent administrations.

The former prime minister also defended the Rwanda deportation scheme, asserting that it would have effectively addressed illegal small boat crossings. He expressed pride in the Brexit deal, which he said provided the legal framework for immigration control that would not have been possible inside the European Union.

The interview sparked a heated panel discussion, with critics accusing Johnson of hypocrisy, pointing to his own history of accepting freebies and donations. Supporters, however, echoed his defense of Brexit as a tool for border control. The exchange highlighted the ongoing political divide over immigration policy and the legacy of Johnson's premiership.