Unprecedented Number of Migrants Reaching 50,000 During Labour Tenure Labeled 'Unacceptable' by Former Home Secretary
The current Labour government in the UK is taking significant steps to address the issue of migrants crossing the Channel, aiming to reduce their numbers and manage migration pressures.
Official figures suggest that over 49,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since last year, with the number expected to exceed 50,000. This is a concern that has been present for several years, according to Baroness Smith, who served as home secretary during Gordon Brown's premiership. She has placed responsibility on previous governments, including Rishi Sunak's, for enabling the "hideous criminal activity" of migrant smuggling to become entrenched.
To combat this issue, the Labour government is focusing on several key areas. Firstly, they are diverting Home Office resources to speed up processing of asylum claims and increase deportations of those without legitimate claims. This move is aimed at reducing the backlog in the system and expediting the return of those who do not have the right to stay.
Secondly, a new "one in, one out" deal with France is being pursued. This agreement allows a small number of migrants crossing the Channel to be returned to France, in exchange for accepting a similar number of asylum seekers from France. Pilot returns under this scheme are expected to be around 50 people per week, though exact numbers remain uncertain.
Thirdly, the government is taking tougher action against criminal gangs responsible for facilitating small boat crossings. This is intended to deter dangerous Channel routes and dismantle the networks that exploit migrants.
Furthermore, immigration enforcement powers are being updated to include greater authority to arrest and detain suspected immigration offenders, enhancing border security measures.
Despite these initiatives, the number of asylum seekers continues to rise, with a record 111,000 applications in the year to June 2025. Channel crossings remain at record levels, and the government has faced legal challenges over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.
Kemi Badenoch, a politician, has stated that she could reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel to zero "quickly" if she was in power. Her team is reportedly looking at what can be done in terms of detention centers and preventing migrants from coming to the UK in the first place.
Baroness Jacqui Smith, a former home secretary and current education minister, has criticized the increase in migrants crossing the Channel since Labour came to power last year. Despite these concerns, Baroness Smith believes initiatives in place will help bring down the number of migrants crossing the Channel.
However, it's worth noting that an agreement with Rwanda to send asylum seekers there for their claims to be processed was cancelled under the incoming Labour Government, after only a handful of migrants had gone to Rwanda voluntarily.
In summary, Labour’s approach combines enhanced processing capacity, stricter enforcement, cross-channel cooperation with France, and targeting smuggling networks to reduce small boat crossings and manage migration pressures. However, measurable impact on numbers remains limited so far due to the scale of arrivals and systemic challenges.
[1] BBC News, "Labour unveils plan to tackle Channel migrant crossings," 12 January 2023. [2] Sky News, "Labour pledges to 'smash the gangs' to cut Channel migrant crossings," 13 January 2023. [3] The Guardian, "Labour to double asylum cases being determined and increase numbers of people being returned overseas," 14 January 2023. [4] The Independent, "Labour's asylum plan: What is Keir Starmer's plan to tackle Channel migrant crisis?" 15 January 2023. [5] Home Office, "Immigration and Asylum Bill: Briefing Paper," March 2025.
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