Over 50,000 individuals have allegedly voyaged across the Channel in small vessels since Starmer assumed the position of PM.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has been in office for over 400 days, has implemented a series of new policies to address the rising number of migrants arriving in the UK on small boats. However, recent data indicates that these measures have not yet resulted in a reduction of arrivals compared to previous administrations.
In an effort to tackle the issue, Starmer has pursued a multi-faceted approach. This includes strengthening international diplomacy and bilateral agreements, such as a new UK-Iraq deal to enable quicker returns of irregular immigrants, and a "one in, one out" pilot agreement with France allowing the return of some migrants arriving illegally by small boats.
Additionally, the government has expanded the “Deport First, Appeal Later” scheme from 8 to 23 countries to remove foreign nationals more quickly. Targeted sanctions against migrant-smuggling gangs have also been introduced to freeze assets and disrupt financing.
Notably, Starmer ended the previous Conservative government’s controversial and unlawful Rwanda deportation policy, instead establishing a new Border Security Command focused on enforcement and intelligence.
Criticism of these measures remains significant. The "one in, one out" deal with France has been described as only addressing a small fraction of crossings and unlikely to solve the core issues. Critics argue that the previous Labour government’s policies have yet to translate into meaningful decreases in crossings, evidenced by the continuing rise in small boat arrivals.
Political pressure on Starmer is increasing due to record asylum seeker claims and perceptions that his government has not delivered on promises to curb illegal migration effectively. The net approval rating of the government has fallen to -55, which is Labour's lowest score to date.
Despite these challenges, Baroness Jacqui Smith acknowledges that dismantling people smuggling gangs will take time before its impact is felt. It's important to note that more than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister, with the highest daily total reaching 1,195 on 31 May.
While the effectiveness of these policies in the longer term remains to be fully evaluated, it's clear that the issue of small boat migrant arrivals remains a significant challenge for the UK government. The government's focus on diplomacy, enforcement, and disruption of smuggling networks will continue to be a key part of the evolving border strategy.
War rhetoric in the general news has amplified, with politicians debating the impact of Starmer's approach to migration. The current political climate, marked by rising asylum seeker claims and small boat migrant arrivals, has been described as a "war" on illegal immigration.
Amidst the political noise, critics continue to question the effectiveness of Starmer's policies in reducing migrant arrivals, comparing them unfavorably to previous administrations and accusing them of only addressing the surface issues. These debates have escalated into a heated dispute over the government's ability to manage migration and maintain national security effectively.
