Channel Migrant Crossings Surge by a Third Under Starmer Despite Pledge to “Smash the Gangs”
Posted by Richard Willett – Memes and headline comments by David Icke
Keir Starmer oversaw almost a third more migrants crossing the Channel in small boats last year despite his pledge to “smash the gangs“, new Home Office statistics have revealed. The Telegraph has the story.
Since the Prime Minister’s first day in office on July 5th and the end of 2024, some 23,242 migrants arrived on small boats – up 29% on the same months in 2023.
The increase came after Sir Keir scrapped the Tory plan to send asylum seekers who crossed the English Channel without permission to Rwanda, instead putting focus on “smashing” the smuggling gangs.
The number of small boat crossings also rose in the first six months of 2024 when Rishi Sunak was prime minister, though by a smaller degree than seen under Sir Keir.
It means 2024 saw the second highest number of migrants arriving on small boats on record.
Only 2022 saw a greater number of arrivals.
Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, said Labour had “totally failed on illegal immigration by small boat”.
He added: “Numbers have sky-rocketed since the election. Over three times more illegal immigrants crossed in December compared to last year – an insult to the British people. Labour has lost control of our borders.”
Richard Tice, the Reform Deputy Leader, said: “It’s quite clear that far from smashing the gangs, it’s only getting worse under Labour.
“Labour needs to start putting British people first and not allowing our borders to be at the whim of the weather.”
Some 36,816 people made the journey in 2024, a jump of 25% from the 29,437 who arrived in 2023, according to provisional figures from the Home Office.
The leadership of the country during the period was split, with Mr. Sunak being Prime Minister for the first six months of the year before Sir Keir took over in July.
But under Sir Keir, the number of migrants arriving on small boats in 2024 compared with the same months in 2023 rose 29%. Under Mr. Sunak, the rise was 19%.
