Small boat crossings of the English Channel remained at near-record levels in 2025, delivering a significant political blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's key election pledge to tackle illegal migration. A total of 41,472 migrants made the perilous journey last year, according to official Home Office data released on Thursday.
Record-Breaking Numbers Defy Government Pledges
The final 2025 figure represents the second highest annual total since records began in 2018, falling just 9% short of the all-time peak of 45,774 set in 2022. More critically for the Labour government, which came to power in July 2024 vowing to 'smash the gangs', last year's arrivals were 13% higher than the 36,816 recorded in 2024 and a stark 41% increase on the 2023 total of 29,437.
Embarrassingly for the Prime Minister, he is now less than 1,000 migrant crossings away from an unwelcome personal record. After just 545 days in office, 64,714 people have arrived via small boats during his premiership—a rate of 118 per day. This compares to the 65,676 who crossed during Boris Johnson's entire 1,140-day tenure, which averaged 57 per day.
New Laws and International Deals Under Scrutiny
The government has introduced several measures in an attempt to stem the flow. The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act became law in December, granting law enforcement new powers to combat smuggling gangs. Furthermore, a controversial 'one in, one out' returns deal with France was activated in August. By mid-December, Border Security Minister Alex Norris reported that 193 migrants had been returned to France under this pilot, with 195 arriving via safe routes in exchange.
However, the scheme has faced criticism after reports emerged of migrants returning to the UK after being removed to France. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelled it 'no deterrent at all'. Meanwhile, enforcement faced a new challenge as French police unions advised officers not to interfere with departing boats over liability fears for migrant deaths.
A Shifting Crisis and Political Backlash
The dynamics of the crossings are changing. Boats are becoming more crowded, with an average of 62 people per vessel in 2025, up from 53 in 2024. While arrivals ran at record pace for much of the year, the final two months saw a slowdown, including a 28-day period with no crossings from November 15 to December 12.
The political response has exposed divisions. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposed sweeping asylum reforms inspired by Denmark's system, including making refugee status temporary. These plans sparked a backlash from some Labour MPs and were criticised by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as insufficient without leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The government insists it will stay in the ECHR but seek reforms.
The human cost remains severe. At least 17 people died attempting the crossing in 2025, with the International Organisation for Migration reporting a wider toll of 36 deaths linked to UK-bound journeys from Europe. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council warned that punitive measures would not deter those fleeing danger, stating: 'No-one risks their life on a flimsy boat in the Channel except out of desperation.'
As the government presses on with plans to end hotel use for asylum seekers by 2029, the 2025 figures present a clear and persistent challenge to its central promise on border security.
