Pressure mounts on Sir Keir Starmer
More than 150,000 illegal migrants have arrived on small boats since 2018, a number large enough to fill a town the size of Blackpool. This staggering milestone is putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who has pledged to combat the criminal gangs facilitating these dangerous crossings.
Recent Channel crossings
On Christmas Day, 451 migrants made the perilous journey across the Channel in 11 overcrowded vessels. The following day, on Boxing Day, another 407 individuals arrived in the UK on 10 small boats.
Historical data and trends
Since 2018, the total number of Channel crossings has surpassed 150,000. The annual figures have seen a significant increase over the years, from just 299 arrivals in 2018 to a record 45,774 in 2022. Although the numbers dropped to 29,437 in 2023, the cumulative figure for 2024 so far is 35,898.
Call for action
Senior Tories are calling on the Labour party to reinstate the Rwanda plan to address the escalating crisis. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp emphasized the need for a new approach to tackle small boat crossings, stating that a country must control its borders and prevent dangerous and illegal journeys.
