Latest news with #SmallBoats
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Small boat milestone reached faster under Starmer than any other PM
Over 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour assumed power, reaching this milestone in 403 days, the quickest timeframe under any prime minister. Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith described the number of crossings as "unacceptable" and a "very big challenge", attributing the issue to criminal gangs enabled by the previous Tory government. Labour has implemented a new "one in, one out" returns deal with France and a scheme to detain and deport small boat migrants, with some due for return within weeks. Charities, including the Refugee Council, urge the government to expand safe and legal routes to the UK, arguing that individuals undertake perilous crossings out of desperation. Experts suggest that small boat arrivals are on an upward trend, potentially leading to record numbers in 2025, and that efforts to disrupt smuggling gangs may not be fully effective due to their adaptability.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Over 50,000 small boat migrants cross Channel under Labour as Starmer fails to get a grip on crisis
More than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power, despite Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to 'smash the gangs' behind them. It is the quickest timeframe in which the milestone has been met under a prime minister – 403 days – and education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith admitted earlier on Tuesday that the number of people making the dangerous crossing was 'unacceptable'. Figures published on Tuesday showed the total number of migrants to arrive on small boats under Labour has now reached 50,271. Labour has so far been unable to get a grip on the increase, despite ramping up its efforts to bring down migration, with a new 'one in, one out' returns deal with France beginning last Friday, amid growing public anger over the issue. Baroness Smith of Malvern blamed the previous Tory government, despite the number being reached in 603 days under former prime minister Rishi Sunak. She said stopping the crossings was 'a very big challenge' and admitted it was 'a problem that, up to this point, we haven't managed to tackle'. She said: 'It sort of demonstrates the way over the last six or seven years that the criminal gangs have got an absolute foothold in the tragic trafficking of people across the Channel'. She continued: 'I think it's tough because the last government enabled this hideous criminal activity to really get its roots into Europe'. The figures come after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested that migrants housed in hotels should instead be put in 'camps'. Referring to concerns about a hotel in Epping, Essex, she said: 'We cannot use rules from 1995, or 2005, or even 2015 for 2025. Our world is changing very quickly, and we need to adapt to it. Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities?' Labour has been criticised for continuing to operate a 'highly dangerous' former RAF base in Wethersfield to house asylum seekers. Self-harm and suicide attempts were among over 400 incidents recorded at the site last year. Sir Keir has introduced a new scheme to detain small boat migrants when they arrive in the UK, with some due to be deported to France within weeks. In exchange, people will be able to apply to come to the UK from France, with those with family links expected to be prioritised. Amid growing political pressure on the issue of migration, the government has made a number of announcements on illegal migration. These include announcing an extra £100m to boost the work of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and funding for interventions in transit countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The Home Office has also pledged to deport more foreign criminals before their appeals can be heard. Dr Mihnea Cuibus, researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said that small boat arrivals have been on an upward trend since last autumn. Around 46,000 people arrived by small boat over the last 12 months, which is approaching record levels last seen in 2022, he explained. 'If current trends continue, it's likely that we will see a record number of arrivals during 2025,' Dr Cuibus said. While no one factor can explain the increases, some broader trends are evident. 'Smuggling gangs have become increasingly professionalised and efficient, which has allowed them to scale up operations and increase the availability of crossings. This includes the use of progressively larger and more crowded addition, the number of pending asylum applications has increased across Europe, which may have pushed some people further along towards the UK. This has become particularly relevant after Brexit, since the UK no longer has access to the EU's asylum database, and is no longer able to return people to their EU country of first arrival,' he added. Dr Cuibus explained that bringing people more people to justice though 'smashing the gangs' might not necessarily disrupt the overall market. 'Smuggling gangs are highly adaptable and decentralised, meaning that smugglers who are captured can be relatively easily replaced by others'.
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
More than 50,000 people have crossed Channel in small boats since Starmer became PM
More than 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister, according to new figures. Home Office statistics show that up to and including Sunday, a total of 49,797 people have arrived by small boat since 5 July 2024. A further 474 arrived on Monday, bringing the total to 50,271. Migrants who arrive by small boat from France can now be detained and returned under a new "one in, one out deal" that came into force last week. The government hopes it will act as a deterrent amid a record number of Channel crossings under Labour. Nearly 20,000 migrants crossed the English Channel to the UK in the first six months of this year, a rise of almost 50% on the number crossing in 2024 and a new record for the first half of a year. It means Sir Keir - who won power promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings - has seen 50,000 crossings on his watch in 402 days. Sky News chief political correspondent Jon Craig says that's "much faster" than under Rishi Sunak, who was in office for 603 days when he hit the unwanted tally. It took some 1,066 days under Boris Johnson, though it's worth remembering his tenure covered the COVID pandemic and lockdowns. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
PM on brink of unwanted small boats milestone - and far faster than his Tory predecessors
The number of people who have illegally crossed the Channel on small boats under the Labour government is on the brink of passing 50,000. Home Office figures show that up to and including Sunday, a total of 49,797 people had arrived since 5 July 2024. Politics Hub: Follow latest updates Sky News witnessed more migrants being brought ashore at Dover on Monday on a day of exceptional weather, and the Conservatives claim the 50,000 threshold has been hit. Official statistics could confirm the milestone later today. It would mean Sir Keir Starmer - who won power promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings - has seen 50,000 crossings on his watch in 401 days. Sky News said that's "much faster" than under Rishi Sunak, who was in office for 603 days when he hit the unwanted tally. It took some 1,066 days under Boris Johnson, though it's worth remembering his tenure covered the pandemic. Nearly 20,000 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in the first six months of this year, a rise of almost 50% on the number crossing in 2024 and a new record for the first half of a year. The government is hoping a new will deter crossings, with some migrants now facing the prospect of being detained and returned. Read more from Sky News:Trump gaffe speaks volumesLords under fire over rule change Badenoch: People don't feel safe The numbers have further fuelled public anger over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with protests taking place across the country this summer. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has suggested "camps" be set up instead, saying women and children in her Essex constituency and elsewhere "don't feel safe". Her party are also proposing automatic deportation for any illegal migrants, and have regularly criticised the government for scrapping the Rwanda scheme. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said "Labour tore up our deterrents before they were even in place". A Number 10 spokesperson said crossings "reached all-time highs" under the previous Tory government. "The gangs had six years to set routes," they added, and Labour are determined to tackle the crisis by "hunting down gangs" and "fixing the foundations of a broken asylum system".
Sky News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
PM on brink of unwanted small boats milestone - and far faster than his Tory predecessors
The number of people who have illegally crossed the Channel on small boats under the Labour government is on the brink of passing 50,000. Home Office figures show that up to and including Sunday, a total of 49,797 people had arrived since 5 July 2024. Sky News witnessed more migrants being brought ashore at Dover on Monday on a day of exceptional weather, and the Conservatives claim the 50,000 threshold has been hit. Official statistics could confirm the milestone later today. It would mean Sir Keir Starmer - who won power promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings - has seen 50,000 crossings on his watch in 401 days. Sky News chief political correspondent Jon Craig said that's "much faster" than under Rishi Sunak, who was in office for 603 days when he hit the unwanted tally. It took some 1,066 days under Boris Johnson, though it's worth remembering his tenure covered the pandemic. Nearly 20,000 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in the first six months of this year, a rise of almost 50% on the number crossing in 2024 and a new record for the first half of a year. The government is hoping a new "one in one out deal" with France that came into force last week will deter crossings, with some migrants now facing the prospect of being detained and returned. 1:08 Badenoch: People don't feel safe The numbers have further fuelled public anger over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with protests taking place across the country this summer. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has suggested "camps" be set up instead, saying women and children in her Essex constituency and elsewhere "don't feel safe". Her party are also proposing automatic deportation for any illegal migrants, and have regularly criticised the government for scrapping the Rwanda scheme. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said "Labour tore up our deterrents before they were even in place". 2:41 A Number 10 spokesperson said crossings "reached all-time highs" under the previous Tory government. "The gangs had six years to set routes," they added, and Labour are determined to tackle the crisis by "hunting down gangs" and "fixing the foundations of a broken asylum system".
