Migrants have been illegally crossing the Channel from France to the UK at a steady rate just a few months after some were recorded expressing excitement at the prospect of a lax Labour government.
On Saturday alone, 492 arrived in just nine boats, an average of 54 migrants per boat, according to official figures. Another 22 made the journey—without interruption—on Sunday, pushing the weekend total to over 500.
Frustration with Labour’s likely-continued inaction on illegal migration is bound to fuel a strong discontent with the government, not least now that polling agrees immigration is the most important issue for British people.
Earlier this month, more than 700 migrants arrived in just one day—the busiest so far since the election of Keir Starmer on July 4th. Well over 5,000 have crossed since Labour got into power, and the figure will very soon hit 10,000.
After the publication of this weekend’s figures, the Migration Watch think tank insisted that “it’s time [for Labour] to get a grip.”
You quite rightly derided your predecessors for failing. So far, you’ve given no sign that you will do better. On the contrary.
— Migration Watch (@MigrationWatch) August 19, 2024
The number one issue for people is the massive scale of illegal and legal immigration
It's time to get a grip, @Keir_Starmer. You quite rightly derided your predecessors for failing. So far, you’ve given no sign that you will do better. On the contrary. pic.twitter.com/y6qs8cueoE
Conservative shadow home secretary James Cleverly added that Starmer’s government “must urgently get a grip on ever-rising crossing numbers.” Unfortunately for Cleverly, his own party’s record on illegal migration removes quite a hefty chunk of the authority from his words.
Labour is, however, unlikely to shift its position—from focussing not on deterring the crossings themselves but instead on “smashing the gangs” behind this constant cross-channel movement. Indeed, official Home Office posts have started featuring the term “irregular” rather than “illegal” migration, prompting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to claim that “Labour wants to bury illegal immigration as a subject.”
A recurring problem with the official emphasis on ‘gangs’ is that small boat migrants typically take to the sea voluntarily, and not under direct pressure from criminals.
