UK: Channel Crossings Hit 20K in Labour's First Five Months
More than 20K migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Labour's July election victory. The threshold was passed when two boats carrying 122 people arrived in the UK last weekend....
Facts
- More than 20K migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Labour's July election victory. The threshold was passed when two boats carrying 122 people arrived in the UK last weekend.[1][2]
- The total number of Channel crossings for 2024 has now reached 33.6K, marking an increase compared to the same period last year, though still below the record levels seen in 2022.[3][4]
- The Home office has claimed that weather conditions played a significant role in crossing patterns, with October to November 2024 containing a record number of days deemed suitable for Channel crossings.[2][5]
- This comes as the cost of the UK's asylum system has reportedly risen to £5.4B, with 35.6K asylum seekers being housed in hotels as of September 2024, marking the first quarterly rise in a year.[6][7]
- The UK government recently signed a deal with Iraq in a bid to counter people smuggling and organized crime, while the National Crime Agency (NCA) arrested five suspects in London raids last month as part of an investigation into cross-Channel crime.[8][9]
Sources: [1]The Telegraph, [2]Sky News, [3]BBC News, [4]Migration Watch UK, [5]The guardian, [6]LBC, [7]Daily Mail, [8]GOV.UK and [9]The Standard.
Narratives
- Left narrative, as provided by The guardian and Homeofficemedia. Keir Starmer's government is addressing the rise in small boat crossings, which spiked due to an unprecedented number of “red days” this autumn creating ideal conditions for crossings. Labour is committed to dismantling people-smuggling gangs and enhancing border security, with plans to invest in technology and international partnerships. The government aims to balance migration with workforce training, avoiding past mistakes and ensuring a fair immigration system.
- Right narrative, as provided by Guido Fawkes and Express.co.uk. Keir Starmer's failure to address illegal migration has led to a dramatic increase in Channel crossings in the five months since he became prime minister. Despite his promises to tackle people smuggling, the numbers have surged by 20%, compared to last year. Weak policies, such as the decision to abandon the Rwanda deterrent, have emboldened criminal gangs, costing taxpayers billions. Starmer’s lax approach has only intensified the crisis, leaving the UK vulnerable to a growing migration disaster.
