There is no guarantee that the number of small boat crossings will fall by this time next year, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has told MPs. Appearing before the Home Affairs Committee, she described the numbers as “unacceptable” but stressed there is no “silver bullet” and that the problem requires “long-term, careful, painful work” to resolve.
Since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister, more than 65,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel. In 2025, crossings rose by 13% compared with the previous year, with 41,472 recorded against 36,816 in 2024. Mahmood said she could not guarantee a reduction by next year because measures will “take some time to come into effect”.
The Government continues its clampdown on people smuggling gangs. During his trip to China, Sir Keir announced a deal aimed at preventing boat motors made there from reaching smugglers. A Home Office crackdown on adverts helping migrants circumvent immigration checks also came into force earlier this week.
Mahmood outlined planned legislative changes, including altering the appeal system and restricting the interpretation of Article 8 of the Human Rights Act. She said the Government is working “at pace” to draft and pass a Bill, but acknowledged that such changes “necessarily does take some time”.
