Prime Minister Approaching Unwanted Milestone of Small Boat Arrivals at a Rapid Pace, Outpacing Previous Conservative Leaders
The number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats has significantly increased under the Labour government, compared to previous administrations. Since Labour took office in mid-2024, over 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, with figures for 2025 rising sharply and on track to surpass previous records.
To put this in context:
- In 2022, under the prior Conservative government, the total annual small boat arrivals hit a record 45,774 by year-end.
- For the year ending June 2025, under Labour, there were 43,000 small boat arrivals, already 38% more than the previous year and close to the 2022 peak, despite a 31% reduction in the number of boats due to larger average boat sizes.
- The overall irregular arrivals to the UK increased by 27% year-on-year in the year ending June 2025 to 49,341, of which 88% arrived aboard small boats.
This increase represents a sustained upward trend in Channel crossings that began under the previous government but has continued and intensified since Labour took power. Despite government efforts, including a returns deal with France, crossings continued to rise.
The Conservatives claim that the 50,000 threshold has been reached, and a Number 10 spokesperson acknowledges that crossings "reached all-time highs" under the previous Tory government. In response to the ongoing crisis, the government aims to tackle the issue by "hunting down gangs" and "fixing the foundations of a broken asylum system."
Chris Philp, Shadow home secretary, criticizes the government for scrapping the Rwanda scheme, which was intended to deter illegal immigration. Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, suggests setting up camps for asylum seekers in response to public anger over the use of hotels. The Conservative party also proposes automatic deportation for illegal migrants.
The rate of crossings under Sir Keir Starmer is faster than under Rishi Sunak, with nearly 20,000 migrants crossing the Channel to the UK in the first six months of 2025, a rise of almost 50% compared to 2024. As of Sunday, a total of 49,797 people had arrived since 5 July 2024.
Official statistics may confirm the milestone later today, and the new "one in one out deal" with France that came into force last week is hoped to deter crossings. However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will effectively address the ongoing migration crisis.
- The increase in migration, particularly war-and-conflicts refugees, crossing the English Channel in small boats under the Labour government is a significant general-news topic that has surpassed the previous records set during the Conservative government.
- Politics revolving around the UK's migration crisis has become a critical focus, with the Conservatives suggesting solutions such as setting up camps for asylum seekers, automatic deportation for illegal migrants, and the cancelled Rwanda scheme as a deterrent.
- In the war-on-crime context, efforts to tackle the rising numbers of migrants crossing the English Channel involve "hunting down gangs" and addressing the "foundations of a broken asylum system," according to the government's strategy for dealing with the ongoing migration crisis.
