ILLEGAL migrants have been banned from taking costly taxis to hospital — as Labour admits small boat numbers may still rise.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has put a stop to the cabs perk following a public outcry.
But she was also forced to concede that there was no guarantee Channel small boat crossings would fall this year.
Taxpayers are forking out £16million a year on transport for hotel migrants on top of accommodation costs.
One asylum seeker took a taxi 250 miles to see a GP.
From today, cabs will be allowed only for the pregnant and those with physical disabilities and they will require sign-off from the Home Office.
Ms Mahmood said last night: “I have ended the wasteful use of taxis for medical appointments to protect the taxpayers’ purse. I will stop at nothing to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to Britain, to restore order and control to our borders.”
It marks a victory for The Sun, which has campaigned against migrant luxuries paid for by the taxpayer.
A total of 41,472 migrants came across the Channel from France on small boats last year, up from 36,816 in 2024.
The Home Secretary yesterday told MPs there was no silver bullet and the problem required “long-term, careful, painful work”.
Asked whether she could confidently say numbers would go down this year, she added: “I would love to be in that position. I can’t guarantee I’m going to be.
“That’s because the measures will take some time to come into effect. We will legislate at the earliest opportunity to change the appeal system.
“There is a whole range of legislative changes that we have announced, which we are working at pace to draft and get right before we pass them in a Bill. That all necessarily does take some time.”
