Milestone Reached Just 10 Months After Taking Office
Since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, more than 25,000 migrants have successfully crossed the English Channel in small boats, dealing a major blow to his promise to "stop the boats". This milestone comes just ten months after he assumed office, highlighting the challenge of curbing these perilous journeys.
Failure to Address the Issue
Mr. Sunak had identified ending these dangerous crossings as one of his key priorities at the start of the year. However, the fact that the number of arrivals has surpassed 25,000 during his tenure casts doubt on the effectiveness of his plans to address the situation.
Ongoing Challenges
Recent incidents have further highlighted the difficulties faced in dealing with this issue. In one case, migrants had to be evacuated from the Bibby Stockholm barge due to an outbreak of legionella. Additionally, the recent capsizing of a small boat in the Channel resulted in the tragic deaths of six people, underscoring the dangers associated with these journeys.
Legal Battle and Political Pressure
The UK government is currently appealing a Court of Appeal ruling that blocked their proposal to send migrants to Rwanda in the hopes of deterring future crossings. This legal battle has also led to pressure on the Prime Minister from Conservative MPs, who are calling for the country to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights.
Calls for a Different Approach
Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister, Stephen Kinnock, has voiced his criticism of Mr. Sunak's handling of the issue, stating that the Prime Minister has "fundamentally failed to get a grip" and that the number of crossings is escalating under his watch. Kinnock called for a different approach to address this ongoing challenge.
Political Backlash
Responding to the criticism, the Conservative party accused Sir Keir Starmer and his supporters of opposing every practical measure to address the issue, dismissing their concerns as a result of being "lefty lawyers". This political back-and-forth underscores the increasing significance of the issue and the resulting tensions within the UK political landscape.
