Boris Johnson hit out at Sir Keir Starmer after it emerged the US is set to deport hundreds of illegal migrants to Rwanda. Under the deal which is similar to the one agreed by Mr Johnson but ditched by the Prime Minister, Kigali will take up to 250 people in exchange for payment.

The move is part of US President Donald Trump's bid to crack down on illegal immigration. Mr Johnson told the Daily Mail: "Here is proof, if ever it were needed, that Starmer was very sadly misguided in abandoning the Rwanda scheme.

"It would certainly have worked and it would have scuppered the cross-Channel gangs.

"It is heartbreaking to see other countries now taking advantage – yet again – of ideas pioneered by Britain.

"Starmer scrapped Rwanda purely out of Left-wing spite – and he should restore it as soon as possible."

When he was prime minister, Mr Johnson struck a deal with Kigali to send Channel migrants on a one-way ticket to the East African nation.

But no one was sent before Sir Keir won last year's general election due to legal challenges.

Sir Keir axed the scheme in one of his first acts after entering No 10.

But small boat Channel crossings have surged in recent months following the scrapping of the policy.

The Prime Minister's "one in, one out" deal to return small boat arrivals to France, aimed at getting a grip on the issue, came into force yesterday.

But opposition parties have criticised the plans amid reports that the pilot scheme will see only 50 people a week returned to France while this year has seen a weekly average of more than 800 people make the crossing.