More than 30,000 small boat migrants arrive in UK since Labour came to power in major blow to Keir Starmer’s ‘smash the gangs’ pledge
The small boats crisis continues to spiral out of control as another 66 migrants landed on British shores this morning – the latest wave in what has become a relentless tide of illegal crossings. This marks eight straight days of arrivals, with more than 1,700 people making the dangerous Channel crossing since last Thursday alone.
The figures paint a damning picture of Labour’s failing border strategy. Since entering Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer’s government has overseen the arrival of over 30,000 migrants via small boats – a staggering number that exposes the complete ineffectiveness of their “smash the gangs” approach.
This year’s crossings are running 40% ahead of 2023’s record pace, with more than 6,100 arrivals already. The surge comes despite Labour’s much-vaunted Border Security Command, which was supposed to crack down on people smugglers but has clearly failed to make any meaningful impact.
Maritime security sources reveal growing frustration, with one senior figure telling GB News: “We’re almost nine months down the track and we’d certainly expect to see even a modest impact on gang activity by now. Instead, what we’re seeing is record numbers crossing the Channel.”
The government’s decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme on day one – dismissing it as a “Tory gimmick” – has removed any deterrent effect. While millions have been poured into enforcement operations, the absence of a credible threat of removal appears to have emboldened both migrants and the criminal gangs exploiting them.
With crossings accelerating rather than slowing, pressure is mounting on Starmer to acknowledge his current strategy isn’t working. The British public was promised control of our borders, but nearly nine months into Labour’s tenure, the small boats crisis shows no signs of abating. Unless the Prime Minister changes course and reintroduces a proper deterrent, these dangerous crossings will continue unchecked.
