Fury as more than 25,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain since Labour came to power_Nhy
More than 25,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain since Labour came to power.
A total of 240 migrants made the journey on Saturday, according to Home Office data.
It brought the number to have crossed the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister to 25,135.
The total includes 1,893 migrants who have arrived since the start of this year – a 22 per cent increase compared with the same period last year under the previous Conservative government.
The figure so far this year is also 40 per cent higher than the equivalent number for 2022, which went on to see a record annual number of arrivals at more than 45,000.
Saturday’s figure was the second-highest daily tally so far in 2025.
One of Labour’s first acts in office was scrapping the Tories‘ Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter migrants from risking their lives in the Channel.
The Government has instead placed an emphasis on law enforcement measures against the human trafficking gangs.
Migrants being led into the Port of Dover on January 13. A total of 25,135 people have crossed the Channel on small boats since Labour took power last summer
A view of small boats and dinghies used by migrants to enter Britain. 1,893 migrants who have arrived since the start of this year
However, the number of arrivals is on the rise.
A total of 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in 2024, up 25 per cent on the 29,437 who arrived the previous year.
Last year was also the deadliest on record since the crisis began in 2018.
It witnessed more than 70 deaths as migrants attempted to reach Britain aboard unsafe and overcrowded dinghies.
One Conservative MP questioned what new Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt was doing to tackle the growing crisis.
Ben Obese-Jecty, who represents Huntingdon, said: ‘240 migrants crossed the channel yesterday with one losing their life in the process.
‘When is the new Border Security Commander going to announce his strategic priorities?
One of Sir Keir Starmer’s first acts in office was to scrap the Tories’ scheme to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. He has instead focussed on law enforcement measures against the human trafficking gangs
A total of 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in 2024, up 25 per cent on the 29,437 who arrived the previous year (file photo)
‘What has he done since being appointed last September?’
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
‘The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay.
‘We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.’
