Keir Starmer is ‘expecting’ more boat crossings this summer due to the warmer weather after yesterday saw the highest number of migrants arrive on a single day since the Prime Minister took power.
Home Office figures showed 703 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain on Sunday in 11 boats, as two people died attempting the journey.
Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britain’s general election in July and the PM had promised to ‘smash the gangs’ responsible for the crossings.
But it is unclear when this pledge will actually bear fruit and No10 is now preparing to see an increase in crossings in the coming weeks due to the predicted sunshine.
Within days of taking power, Starmer scrapped a controversial scheme to deport migrants to Rwanda – a flagship policy of the last Conservative government.
The latest figures come after the UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant.
Stopping the small boat arrivals was a key issue in Britain’s general election in July and Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) had promised to ‘smash the gangs’ responsible for the crossings
Figures showed small boat crossings had topped 18,000 for the year
Two migrants have died after a dinghy carrying dozens of people got into difficulty in the English Channel. Pictured is a Border Force vehicle in the Channel last month
Thousands of anti-racism demonstrators rallied across Britain on Saturday against riots that targeted mosques and hotels linked to immigration.
Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to strengthen ‘cooperation’ in handling the surge in undocumented migrant numbers.
But shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly has accused Labour of sending ‘the wrong signal’ by ditching the previous Tory government’s troubled Rwanda plan after figures showed small boat crossings had topped 18,000 for the year.
The former minister and Conservative leadership hopeful said the numbers showed the Government’s ‘phantom border command clearly isn’t working’.
The highest number of arrivals recorded in a single day so far this year was 882 on June 18 and the second highest was 711 on May 1, both under the previous government prior to the general election.
Mr Cleverly said: ‘Since Labour have ditched our deterrent, more and more boats are crossing the channel with more and more people in them.
‘They’ve sent the wrong signal, throwing the doors open instead of doing what is necessary to stop the dangerous crossings.
‘The Government’s phantom border command clearly isn’t working. They need to get a grip and fast, otherwise the numbers will continue to climb.’
The two migrants died after an inflated dinghy carrying dozens of people got into difficulty in the English Channel while trying to make the crossing from France.
The incident occurred this morning, offshore between Calais and Dunkirk, a French maritime official told the BBC.
A total of 18,069 migrants have been detected successfully making the crossing so far in 2024. Pictured are migrants making their way towards England in a dinghy on August 6 this year
ROTHERHAM: The UK UK has been rocked by anti-migrant unrest, following a knife attack on July 29 that killed three children and was falsely linked on social media to a Muslim immigrant
James Cleverly (pictured arriving at Westminster) said the numbers showed the Government’s ‘phantom border command clearly isn’t working’
There were two fatalities and around 50 others rescued, according to authorities. The surviving migrants were taken back to France.
The latest fatalities brings the total of migrants who have died crossing the strait this year to 25.
Several small boats were launched into the Channel from beaches in northern France this morning after a period of windy conditions, the BBC reported.
French authorities have now launched an investigation after a vessel got into trouble, prompting a large rescue operation.
A number of British and French vessels were seen in the Channel late on Sunday morning.
A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: ‘HM Coastguard offered assistance to the French Coastguard with an incident involving a small boat in the Channel this morning, Sunday 11 August.
‘A search and rescue unit and a Border Force vessel were sent to provide support.’
A Home Office spokesperson added: ‘We can confirm there has been a tragic incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters which has resulted in the loss of two lives.
‘This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected.’
