The Prime Minister has pledged to "change our tactics" to tackle Britain's immigration crisis, but a new poll asks whether the public trusts him to follow through. Andy Burnham said the Government would be "relentless" in pursuing the gangs facilitating dangerous Channel crossings, following a record 230 people arriving in a single boat this week.
Record crossings and rising totals
Arrivals have surpassed 80,000 since Labour came to power in July 2024, equating to one every 14 minutes, according to new data. Despite this, the overall number for 2026 has dropped compared to last year, with a provisional total of 15,242, down 42% on the same period in 2025.
Mr Burnham said the Government "will keep going at this issue" until small boat crossings are stopped, but did not commit to a timeline.
Prime Minister's commitment
He told GB News: "I'd rather promise to people what I know I can do and what I know I can deliver, and that is a relentless focus on this issue to deal with public concern."
The Conservatives have called on the PM to go further and leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent new arrivals from challenging their deportations.
Political responses
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told The Sun: "Open-borders Burnham has offered nothing but platitudes. He's given zero indication he will do anything differently to Sir Keir Starmer's failed record on tackling illegal immigration. We will leave the ECHR, ban asylum claims from illegal entrants and deport illegal immigrants rapidly."
A Government spokesperson said: "We're cracking dow on these reckless and dangerous gangs. Small boat crossings are down significantly this year."
