More small-boat migrants have crossed the English Channel under Labour prime minister Keir Starmer than under any other British PM since the crisis began, according to the latest Home Office figures.
Since Labour won the General Election 19 months ago, a total of 65,922 illegal migrants have arrived in the UK by small boats. The figure was reached after 219 migrants arrived in three dinghies yesterday, pushing the total beyond the 65,911 crossings recorded under Boris Johnson during his three years in office.
On average, around 790 migrants have crossed the Channel every week since Starmer took office. A total of 1,114 dinghies have arrived under Labour, with an average of 59 migrants per boat, nearly double the number typically carried during the Johnson years. Last year alone saw 41,472 ‘small-boat’ arrivals, the second-highest annual total on record.
Home Office data shows that most recent arrivals originate from Iran, followed by Afghanistan and Iraq. A Home Office spokesperson said the government has stopped 40,000 crossing attempts and removed or deported almost 60,000 people who entered the country illegally.
In January, Starmer announced a new border security agreement with China, following meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. The deal aims to curb Channel crossings by targeting the supply chains facilitating the so-called small boats, including their engines and other equipment—often sourced from China.
