Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has ignited a heated national debate after sharing her thoughts on the ongoing migration crisis, saying that “a small nation like the UK cannot feed millions of people.”
Speaking candidly about the issue, Lumley urged world leaders to focus on fixing root causes — such as poverty, food shortages, and war — rather than simply closing borders.
“Most people would much rather remain in their own homeland,” Lumley said. “But when a country can no longer feed its people or protect them from war, they have no choice but to move.”
She continued, stressing the need for global cooperation rather than isolation:
“How can we make these nations safe, stable, and self-sufficient again — so people can stay in their beautiful countries, grow crops, build schools, and live without fear?”
The actress, known for her humanitarian work, quoted a powerful passage she once read in Paris:
“‘Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise.’ We must remember compassion — but also think realistically about what small nations can sustain.”
Lumley’s comments come amid a record surge in Channel crossings.
Official figures show that over 57,000 people have arrived in the UK by small boats since Labour took power in July last year — including 125 migrants in a single vessel in September 2025, the largest number ever recorded in one crossing.
Her remarks have since divided public opinion — with some praising her for speaking “hard truths,” while others say her comments oversimplify a deeply complex global issue.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Lumley has once again sparked a national conversation that few are willing to ignore.
