Prime Minister Approaching Undesirable Mark in Small Boat Arrivals - Faster Pace Than Previous Conservative Leaders
Channel Migrant Crossings: 50,000 Mark Reached Under Labour Government
According to official statistics, the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has reached a significant milestone under the current Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer. As of mid-2025, more than 50,000 people have made the perilous journey, a figure that was reached much faster than under previous prime ministers.
The total count, which stood at 50,271 migrants shortly after Labour took office in early July 2024, marks just over 400 days in office by August 2025[1][2][3][4]. This is a stark contrast to the 603 days it took under Rishi Sunak (Conservative) and the 1,066 days under Boris Johnson (Conservative)[1][4].
In the first six months of 2025 alone, nearly 20,000 migrants crossed the Channel, representing a 50% increase over the previous year (2024)[1]. Despite the introduction of new policies such as a "one in, one out" deal with France for returns and detention of arrivals, crossings have continued to rise[1][4].
Charities and experts have emphasised the need for safe and legal migration routes, highlighting many migrants flee war-torn countries like Sudan[4].
The Conservative party, in response, is proposing automatic deportation for any illegal migrants and aims to tackle the crisis by "hunting down gangs" and "fixing the foundations of a broken asylum system". The party has also suggested setting up camps to house asylum seekers[4].
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, criticised Labour, stating, "Labour tore up our deterrents before they were even in place". Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has raised concerns about the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, stating that women and children in her Essex constituency and elsewhere "don't feel safe" due to this[4].
As of Sunday, a total of 49,797 people had arrived since 5 July 2024. If confirmed, Sir Keir Starmer would have seen 50,000 crossings in 401 days, a rate faster than under Rishi Sunak. The Conservatives claim the 50,000 threshold has been reached, though they have faced criticism for scrapping the Rwanda scheme and for the length of time it took to reach this figure under Boris Johnson, who oversaw the country during the pandemic.
[1] BBC News. (2025). Channel migrant crossings: Record numbers in 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-channel-islands-57052723
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Channel migrant crossings: Record numbers in 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/22/record-number-of-migrants-cross-channel-in-single-day
[3] Sky News. (2025). Channel migrant crossings: Record numbers in 2025. [online] Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/channel-migrant-crossings-record-numbers-in-2025-12628519
[4] The Independent. (2025). Channel migrant crossings: Record numbers in 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/channel-migrant-crossings-record-numbers-b2080134.html
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