BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty and Foreign Secretary David Lammy (Image: BBC)
was put on the spot over how much plans for a people smuggling sanctions regime will bring down small boat crossings.
The Foreign Secretary did not give a figure when pressed multiple times on Breakfast.
Asked how much the proposals would by this time next year, Mr Lammy said: “Well there are global estimates that organised immigration crime is about £100 billion worth of activity.
“When I sanctioned the Russian economy it’s been about £400 billion worth that means to Putin and that’s four years more of this war.
“So by going after these individuals and their organisations we’re hoping to shift behaviour, we’re hoping to deter, I think other European allies will follow us.
“We are playing our part because we want to see those numbers come down.”
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Pressed for a figure, he went on: “Well of course that is our intention. I think it’s important we demonstrate to the British public progress by the next election.
“The Prime Minister has said it’s got to be significant, we’ve got to go faster, quicker and deeper.
“That is why I’m saying to the Foreign Office that this alongside growth is our number one objective.
“Foreign policy is not just about geography and expertise, it’s also about illegal and irregular migration.
“And just as we’re using some of our budget upstream in countries to stop people wanting to come to the UK, we’re using our sanctions regime to bust up some of this model.”
New sanctions will target the finances of people smuggling networks as part of efforts to stop migrants crossing the English Channel.
The planned measures are intended to disrupt the flow of money and make it harder for ringleaders to profit from the deadly trade.
It will be the world’s first standalone sanctions regime dedicated to targeting irregular migration and organised immigration crime.