Migrants Attempt Channel Crossing (Image: Getty)
Small boat migrants have enjoyed visits to the circus, driving lessons and crazy golf at a taxpayers’ expense. An audit of local council spending by Reform also uncovered spending at luxury department store Fortnum and Mason, as well as purchases from Argos, Currys and Amazon.
The spending, reported in the Daily Mail, was branded “a betrayal of the taxpayer” by Reform’s Zia Yusuf. He oversaw a so-called DOGE inquiry to look into the spending of councils which Reform controls following local election wins in May. Much of the cash was spent by Kent County Council, which is responsible for ssome of the areas where small boat migrants are arriving such as Dover.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It?Memory Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
'Postcode lottery' means children with special needs miss out on vital support
10 Comments
Peer's absurd 8-word claim confirms how far UK politics has fallen
61 Comments
Rachel Reeves is driving a runaway train - and she's about to run out of track
750 Comments
Martin Lewis gives personal tax allowance ￡12,570 state pension freeze update
13 Comments
'Strained' council must pay ￡18m to house Indian isles migrants on top of asylum seekers
67 Comments
State Pension key deadline looms that could offer hint of future monthly payments
Comments
Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves
56 Comments
Retired? Pay One Price for Internet and TVInternet & TV Bundles | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Pensioners may have to budget extra ￡15,000 in retirement savings for 'stealth' tax
8 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'pathetic' plan to send small boat migrants back to France 'to be blocked'
Comments
High speed WiFi for seniors - unbelievab ly low rates High-Speed Wi-Fi Internet Deal | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Labour blasted for 'reckless spending' as it blows ￡10bn on 'failing' schools programme
30 Comments
Keir Starmer's migrant deal with France branded a failure as EU threatens to block it
899 Comments
Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It?Memory Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
Fury erupts at Keir Starmer over 'insulting' stealth tax against pensioners
773 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated by migrants before he's even revealed Macron deal
236 Comments
Is Your Daily Routine Secretly Raising Your Dementia Risk? Find Out HereMemory Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Click Here
Undo
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Dexcom G7 is proven to lower A1C and increase time in range3？？.Dexcom | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
This CGM can alert you of low glucose 20 minutes before it happens. Dexcom | Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
God’s people need youIFCJ | The Fellowship | Sponsored Sponsored
Donate Now
Undo
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
'Postcode lottery' means children with special needs miss out on vital support
10 Comments
We're partnering with IFCJIFCJ | The Fellowship | Sponsored Sponsored
Donate Now
Undo
Peer's absurd 8-word claim confirms how far UK politics has fallen
61 Comments
Rachel Reeves is driving a runaway train - and she's about to run out of track
750 Comments
The Leakproof Rambler？ Travel BottleYETI | Sponsored Sponsored
Shop Now
Undo
Martin Lewis gives personal tax allowance ￡12,570 state pension freeze update
13 Comments
'Strained' council must pay ￡18m to house Indian isles migrants on top of asylum seekers
67 Comments
Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It?Memory Health | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
State Pension key deadline looms that could offer hint of future monthly payments
Comments
Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves
56 Comments
Pensioners may have to budget extra ￡15,000 in retirement savings for 'stealth' tax
8 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'pathetic' plan to send small boat migrants back to France 'to be blocked'
Comments
Labour blasted for 'reckless spending' as it blows ￡10bn on 'failing' schools programme
30 Comments
Keir Starmer's migrant deal with France branded a failure as EU threatens to block it
899 Comments
Fury erupts at Keir Starmer over 'insulting' stealth tax against pensioners
773 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated by migrants before he's even revealed Macron deal
236 Comments
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
READ MORE
Reform fury after Nigel Farage banned from star-studded Macron banquet
Keir Starmer's migrant deal with France branded a failure already
Children who make the Channel crossing are initially taken into the care of Kent County Council with some later dispersed around the country, and the inquiry found 2,500 children are entering Kent’s care system every year.
The inquiry found Kent spent ￡279.91 at the Santus Circus on days out for child migrants, as well as ￡6,055 at a swimming pool, ￡55.50 at Mr Mulligans Crazy Golf. The authority spent also spent almost ￡300 on driving lessons.
Powered By
00:00/01:45
10 Sec
274.3K
28
Catherine Perez-Shakdam recounts meeting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Next
Stay
It spent ￡102.95 at Fortnum and Mason, paid out of the council’s Social Fund, as well as ￡162,077 at Amazon, including 2,966 transactions related to asylum seekers. The council also spent ￡11,521 at Currys and ￡70,056 at Argos
Sponsored
Internet & TV Bundles | Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Retired? Pay One Price for Internet and TV
Undo
The Mail reports Kent Council said most of the spending was for unaccompanied asylum seeker children or asylum seekers aged between 18 and 25 who have left the care system but remain the responsibility of the council.
Other councils are also spending cash. Nottinghamshire county council spent ￡38,007 on McDonald’s and ￡7,143 on Domino’s, with most of he money coming from the children and education budget.
Doncaster spent ￡16,659 at McDonald’s, with 93 per cent coming from the children and education budget.
The Prime Minister is due to discuss border security with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz this week as Sir Keir Starmer called illegal migration “a global problem”.
Sir Keir said Mr Merz’s visit to the UK will include talks on “what more we can do together to prosecute criminal networks and prevent people smuggling to the UK”.
“The networks of these criminal gangs stretch across countless countries and legal systems, showing no respect for our borders,” he added.
“We’ll go further to tackle this shared issue together.”
According to the Home Office, 353 people crossed the English Channel by small boat on Friday, just a day after the Prime Minister signed a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at deterring migrants from making the perilous journey.
This was down from the 573 people who crossed on Thursday, the first time any such journeys were made in a week.
More crossings were witnessed on Saturday, but the full figures are yet to be published.
Border force vessels and the RNLI were called out on both Thursday and Friday to reports of multiple boats crossing the channel, the Coastguard said.
A statement from the Coastguard said: “HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating a response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel on 10 and 11 July.
“UK Border Force and RNLI vessels have been sent as part of this response.”
Under the terms of the deal agreed by the Prime Minister and Mr Macron, the UK will be able to send migrants back to France for the first time in exchange for asylum seekers with links to Britain.
The so-called one in, one out deal is due to begin in weeks on a pilot basis, but needs final legal verification from the EU.
Downing Street has indicated ministers expect the EU to support the arrangement, amid concerns among some European governments that migrants who have travelled to Britain could end up back on their territory.
No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the pilot, but French officials had indicated it could initially be limited to about 50 a week, a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782.
Sir Keir wrote: “This is what serious, practical solutions to global problems look like.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
'Postcode lottery' means children with special needs miss out on vital support
10 Comments
Peer's absurd 8-word claim confirms how far UK politics has fallen
61 Comments
Rachel Reeves is driving a runaway train - and she's about to run out of track
750 Comments
Martin Lewis gives personal tax allowance ￡12,570 state pension freeze update
13 Comments
'Strained' council must pay ￡18m to house Indian isles migrants on top of asylum seekers
67 Comments
State Pension key deadline looms that could offer hint of future monthly payments
Comments
Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves
56 Comments
Pensioners may have to budget extra ￡15,000 in retirement savings for 'stealth' tax
8 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'pathetic' plan to send small boat migrants back to France 'to be blocked'
Comments
Labour blasted for 'reckless spending' as it blows ￡10bn on 'failing' schools programme
30 Comments
Keir Starmer's migrant deal with France branded a failure as EU threatens to block it
899 Comments
Fury erupts at Keir Starmer over 'insulting' stealth tax against pensioners
773 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated by migrants before he's even revealed Macron deal
236 Comments
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
'Postcode lottery' means children with special needs miss out on vital support
10 Comments
Peer's absurd 8-word claim confirms how far UK politics has fallen
61 Comments
Rachel Reeves is driving a runaway train - and she's about to run out of track
750 Comments
Martin Lewis gives personal tax allowance ￡12,570 state pension freeze update
13 Comments
'Strained' council must pay ￡18m to house Indian isles migrants on top of asylum seekers
67 Comments
State Pension key deadline looms that could offer hint of future monthly payments
Comments
Labour Leftie unleashes huge ￡120bn list of tax hike demands on Rachel Reeves
56 Comments
Pensioners may have to budget extra ￡15,000 in retirement savings for 'stealth' tax
8 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'pathetic' plan to send small boat migrants back to France 'to be blocked'
Comments
Labour blasted for 'reckless spending' as it blows ￡10bn on 'failing' schools programme
30 Comments
Keir Starmer's migrant deal with France branded a failure as EU threatens to block it
899 Comments
Fury erupts at Keir Starmer over 'insulting' stealth tax against pensioners
773 Comments
Keir Starmer humiliated by migrants before he's even revealed Macron deal
236 Comments
Fears council tax could rise by 27% in major UK city under Angela Rayner's plans
167 Comments
Keir Starmer set to agree 17-in, one-out migrant deal with France in negotiating flop
986 Comments
Lee Anderson issues brutal 1-word response to Keir Starmer over major election promise
17 Comments
Keir Starmer refuses to rule out stealth income tax hike in PMQs bombshell
58 Comments
Nightmare for Starmer as PM warned he faces fresh rebellion on decision affecting millions
31 Comments
Panic in Ireland as country named Europe's 'worst' place to live
13 Comments
UK high street panic as Rachel Reeves plans ￡1.7million business tax raid
30 Comments
“We will do our duty as a compassionate country, accepting genuine asylum seekers who respect our rules and our way of life. That is fair.
“But people who try to make the crossing illegally will soon find themselves back where they started. That is a real deterrent.”
At least 21,000 people have already made the journey since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Read Next