More than 20,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Labour entered office in July, according to the latest official figures. The milestone, reached in the past five months, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Sir Keir Starmer’s government in managing irregular migration.
The number of crossings is up compared to last year but remains below the record levels seen in 2022, when a surge in late-summer arrivals pushed the numbers to new highs. Official data shows that 122 people arrived on Sunday in two small boats, bringing the total number of crossings since 5 July—the date Labour assumed office—to 20,110. This is an increase from 17,020 during the same period last year, with a notable spike in crossings during October, attributed to calmer seas.
While this year’s total is lower than the 31,264 crossings in the same period in 2022, the numbers remain a significant political challenge for the government. Ministers privately acknowledge that tackling illegal migration is central to public perceptions of the government’s effectiveness.
The recent uptick in crossings has added pressure to the government’s plans to address people smuggling. Labour has scrapped the previous government’s controversial plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda, which was widely criticized as ineffective and costly. Instead, the current administration is focusing on disrupting the smuggling gangs responsible for bringing migrants across the Channel.
Home Office sources indicate that the government aims to enhance police powers to target criminal gangs, including giving law enforcement greater authority to tackle people smugglers. Labour has also pushed for closer international cooperation to curb the flow of migrants, with the UK agreeing to fund border security improvements in Iraq and engage in joint enforcement operations.
Additionally, the government is considering allowing police to use counter-terrorism powers, introduced under Tony Blair’s administration, to search people suspected of involvement in people smuggling. However, legislation to grant these powers is still under development and is expected to take months to pass through Parliament.
Critics, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, have been quick to slam the government’s handling of the issue. Philp described the approach as “weak and vacuous,” calling for the reinstatement of the Rwanda policy. “These figures show that under Keir Starmer, the gangs are thriving,” he said, underscoring the continued political friction over the issue of Channel crossings.
