The number of migrants using small boats surpasses 10,000 this year – although Rishi Sunak announces a drop in crossings
The number of migrants on small boats has surpassed 10,000 this year – although Rishi Sunak laments a drop in crossings.
A staggering 2,375 people made the perilous journey across the English Channel in 46 boats in one week.
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This means the numbers are almost at the level of last year when 10,000 people had crossed the English Channel by 2 June 2022.
The PM insisted earlier this month that crossings were down by a fifth compared to the same period last year – but critics blamed a wet spring and windy weather.
This week’s heatwave has again prompted a sharp increase in crossings as more gangs try to take advantage of the calmer weather to get across the border.
Nigel Farage raged: “Rishi Sunak don’t stop the boats, no chance.”
And the Labor Party’s Yvette Cooper fumed: “These figures show the miserable failure of all the Prime Minister’s boasts about progress on small boats and follow a week of damning official reports of mounting backlog, rising hotel costs and lack of border security.”
“Rishi Sunak’s small boat plan is crumbling in plain sight and he has no idea how to reverse it.”
A group of refugee charities is today urging ministers not to detain under-18s, saying it could put them at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder or suicide.
A coalition of leading medical organizations has warned the government to reconsider the new legislation in the Small Boats Bill, which is currently being debated in the House of Lords.
