230 Migrants Crossed the English Channel in One Large Dinghy on Sunday, but It Is the Simple Question Andy Burnham Has Yet to Answer That Is Causing a Stir
Andy Burnham has been accused of avoiding one of Britain’s biggest problems after a record 230 migrants crossed the English Channel in a single large dinghy on Sunday.
Speaking on GB News, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart said he had heard very little from the Prime Minister about how the Government plans to stop illegal Channel crossings.
The Conservative politician also criticised the previous government’s “one-in, one-out” agreement. He said the plan was supposed to discourage people from making the dangerous journey, but claimed it had failed to bring the numbers down.
Mr Burghart said there were serious questions for the new Government to answer. He accused Andy Burnham and his ministers of running away from the problem instead of explaining what action they would take.
His comments came after 230 people reportedly reached Britain in one overcrowded “mega dinghy” on Sunday. Across the entire weekend, about 950 small boat migrants arrived in Dover.
Mr Burghart was also asked whether the Conservatives would support Reform UK’s proposal to use the Royal Navy to turn small boats around and return them to French beaches. He said every possible option should remain open.
However, he argued that the strongest deterrent would be to send people arriving illegally to a safe third country. He said they should be transferred quickly under a proper agreement so they would know that crossing the Channel would not allow them to remain in Britain.
He pointed to Australia’s previous agreement with Nauru, saying the policy discouraged many people from attempting the journey. According to him, only a limited number needed to be removed before others stopped travelling because they did not want to end up in a distant third country.
Mr Burghart claimed Britain would remain unable to solve the problem unless it left the European Convention on Human Rights. He said the Conservatives supported leaving the convention but claimed the Labour Government would refuse to do so.
He also criticised the Government’s early-release scheme for prisoners. He said the Conservatives would quickly build more prisons, rent prison spaces in other countries such as Estonia and deport more foreign criminals currently being held in British jails.
Mr Burghart warned that releasing dangerous prisoners early could have serious consequences for the public. He claimed some people responsible for extremely serious crimes could be allowed back into the community.
Responding to the record crossing, a Home Office spokesman said criminal gangs were using increasingly dangerous methods by placing large numbers of people on boats that were not safe for the journey.
The Home Office said small boat crossings were down compared with the previous year and that July recorded the lowest number of crossings for that month since 2020. However, officials admitted that more action was still needed.
The Government said it had reached a payment-by-results agreement with France to increase the number of officers patrolling French beaches by 40 per cent. The aim is to stop more boats before they enter the English Channel.
