Sir Keir Starmer has “misplaced management” of Britain’s borders after the variety of small boat crossings surged to a report excessive, the Tories have stated.
A complete of 656 migrants crossed the English Channel on Saturday, taking the variety of these crossing this yr to greater than 8,000.
It’s the worst ever begin to a yr and the entire to this point is 46 per cent increased than at this level in 2024.
Chris Philp, the shadow dwelling secretary, stated the Prime Minister’s pledge to crack down on the gangs lay “in tatters”.
He stated: “This information underlines what all of us knew – Keir Starmer has misplaced management of our borders.
“That is the worst begin to a yr in historical past for unlawful crossings. Starmer’s claims to smash the gangs lie in tatters.
“Having cancelled the Rwanda deterrent earlier than it began and with no alternative, Starmer’s solely plan for border safety is to wish for dangerous climate.”
Figures printed on Sunday present that the 656 folks arrived on 11 boats – the best quantity to reach within the UK in 2025. On Friday, 180 folks arrived in three boats.
It brings the entire of small boat crossings to this point in 2025 to eight,064. That is already increased than the 7,567 who got here within the first 4 months of 2024.
Mr Philp stated: “We’ve got been badly let down by a weak Prime Minister who’s extra excited about pleasing his human rights lawyer buddies than defending our borders from unlawful immigrants – most of whom are younger males.
“These crossings are usually not solely unlawful: they’re pointless, as France is a secure nation. A removals deterrent is urgently wanted to cease the massive numbers of unlawful immigrants crossing the channel.”
A spokesman for the Dwelling Workplace stated: “All of us wish to finish harmful small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border safety.
“The people-smuggling gangs don’t care if the susceptible folks they exploit reside or die, so long as they pay, and we’ll cease at nothing to dismantle their enterprise fashions and produce them to justice.
“That’s why this authorities has put ahead a critical, credible plan to lastly restore order to our asylum system.
“This contains more durable enforcement powers, ramping up returns to their highest ranges for greater than half a decade and a significant crackdown on unlawful working to finish the false promise of jobs utilized by gangs to promote areas on boats.”
