Ending illegal Channel crossings is not just a political necessity - it is a moral imperative.

We cannot stand by while more children lose their lives in the Channel. Yet despite Labour’s pledge to “smash the gangs,” crossings are rising, and progress remains elusive.

One of the key barriers to tackling this issue effectively is the lack of transparency. Without clear, honest data on migration and its impacts, both the public and policymakers are left grappling in the dark, unable to make informed decisions or hold anyone accountable.

Immigration is one of the most significant issues shaping modern Britain, yet public trust in how it is managed and communicated is alarmingly low.

Recent polling reveals that only six per cent of the British public trust politicians to tell the truth about immigration’s impact. Trust in journalists and civil servants fares little better, at 19 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.

This distrust is no accident.

It stems from a refusal by decision-makers to be honest and transparent. Regardless of your stance on immigration, full transparency and robust information are essential. Without it, misinformation flourishes, and both sides of the debate risk being manipulated.

Other nations are leading the way. Across Europe and beyond, governments collect and publish detailed data on immigration, openly addressing its effects on public services, welfare systems, and communities.

In stark contrast, our Government appears to be retreating from transparency, releasing less data and responding to parliamentary inquiries with frustrating vagueness.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has inexplicably ceased its analysis of population data by nationality – crucial information for understanding migration’s impact on society.

Why has this stopped under the current Government? Will it resume?

The public cannot make informed decisions or hold policymakers accountable if denied access to the facts. That’s why I recently wrote to the Home Secretary, demanding the immediate release of key data, including:

* Income tax contributions, welfare claims, and benefit usage by nationality and immigration status.

* Arrest and sentencing data, including repeat offences by foreign nationals.

* The cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels and other accommodations.

* Spending on integration programmes, such as refugee loans.

This information belongs in the public domain. Without it, politicians across the political spectrum make promises they cannot substantiate, leaving the public in the dark.

I am eagerly awaiting a response and, if this information is provided, will ensure it is shared with you, my constituents, who are rightly concerned about this issue.

We cannot build a cohesive society on half-truths and withheld data.

The government must lead by example, embracing transparency and empowering the public with the facts. Only then can we create an immigration system that works for everyone—one built on honesty, accountability, and trust.