LABOUR struggled to distinguish itself from the Tories today after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the latest iteration of racist hostile environment immigration policies — in the Sun newspaper.

Ms Cooper said that 1,000 civil servants have been redeployed from working on the now-abandoned Rwanda scheme to staffing a new returns and enforcement programme to “fast track” deportations.

Ms Cooper said immigration operations will intensify over the summer, and target businesses such as car washes and the beauty sector. 

Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “Deploying 1,000 staff to raid car washes [and] nail and hair salons to deport people is the type of hostile environment policy that led to the Windrush scandal.

“Racism towards one community always leads to racism towards all communities. 

“Labour must challenge racism, not concede to the anti-migrant hostility of the Tory right and Reform UK.”

Labour has already announced cruel plans to further militarise Britain’s borders by establishing a Border Security Command,  which will pull together the National Crime Agency, MI5 and the Border Force to target those seeking safety.