Prime Minister Andy Burnham has claimed the Labour Party's plan to stop small boat crossings is working, but admitted more needs to be done to reduce numbers further. Figures show migrant crossings are down 45% from 2025, with around 13,000 making the journey from France this year.
Spike in crossings during heatwave
A recent heatwave led to a spike in crossings, with 900 people making the perilous trip in Burnham's first week as Prime Minister, according to The Sun. Burnham issued a statement on the crossings and outlined his government's next actions.
He said: 'The Home Secretary has brought forward a very rigorous plan in relation to this. And let's remember, the numbers can fluctuate but overall boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year. So that does suggest that the plan is working.'
'The public wants to see control being exerted, and while we've made progress, there is more to do, and I recognise that completely,' Burnham added. He wants migrants to undergo 'all relevant and necessary checks', while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has struck a new deal with French authorities to halt crossings.
Conservative criticism
The government has faced criticism from Conservative MP and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip. He said: 'We've seen well over 1,000 illegal immigrants cross in just the last few days. Shabana Mahmood's deal is not working. I witnessed today the French doing nothing to stop a migrant boat and even helped by handing out lifejackets. The only thing protecting our borders is the weather.'
Home Office response
A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We are bearing down on small boat crossings, with removals of small boat migrants at record levels and asylum claims down by 12%.'
'The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars. This builds on joint work that has stopped over 46,000 attempted crossings since the election.'
'We have removed or deported almost 70,000 people who were here illegally – an increase of 41% – and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.'
