More than 50,000 people have made the hazardous voyage across the English Channel since Labour won last year's general election.
Express at one of the hotspots for small boat crossings in France
Two more dinghies may have taken to the English Channel on a day when Sir Keir Starmer's Government is under the microscope with the revelation that more than 50,000 people have crossed since he came to power. Tracking data appeared to confirm that at least one boat, and possibly two, has set sail for the UK in a fresh blow for the Prime Minister, who has made smashing the gangs a key objective.
Sir Keir has made much of his one in, one out deal with France intended to cut the number of small boats crossing the English Channel overloaded with migrants. But when Express investigations editor Zak Garner-Purkis and shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp took to the seas last week, they quickly spotted two flimsy dinghies doing just that. On Wednesday, Zak and Mr Philp were in France, observing the beaches of Gravelines in Dunkirk - and they likewise discovered groups of people having set sail. More than 26,000 people have made the hazardous voyage so far this year.
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Zak Garner-Purkis is keeping tabs on migrants crossing the English Channel illegally in small boats (Image: GETTY/Express)
Migrant crossings top 50,000 since Labour win as small boats surge
More than 50,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel into the UK since Labour’s 2024 general election victory.
Home Office data shows 474 people arrived by small boat on Monday alone, taking the total to 50,271 since July 4 last year.The figure is 47% higher than at the same stage in 2024 and 67% higher than in 2023.
Labour minister Baroness Smith of Malvern called the milestone “unacceptable” and blamed criminal gangs for the surge.
She said action was being taken to speed up asylum decisions, remove more people and implement a new deal with France.
Tracking data appears to confirm at least one dinghy in the Channel
At least one dinghy appears to have taken to the English Channel on a day when Sir Keir Starmer's Government is under the microscope with the revelation that more than 50,000 people have crossed since he came to power.
Tracking data showed a Border Force vessel in the Channel, meaning it was escorting a boat attempting an illegal crossing. The news represents a fresh blow for the Prime Minister, who has made smashing the gangs a key objective.
A French naval vessel is also in the waterway, suggesing it too is alongside a migrant boat.
Welcome to our blog. We'll bring you the latest on the migrant crisis and the small boats crossing the Channel in a bid to reach the UK today.
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