UK migrant crossings hit yearly high as pressure mounts on Labour government

While France and the UK have increased joint operations, British officials say French police should be empowered to intercept boats before they leave.

Nearly 1,200 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats from France on Saturday — the highest daily total so far this year, according to UK government figures. The Home Office reported that 1,194 people arrived in 18 vessels during favourable weather conditions, bringing the provisional number of arrivals to 14,811, a 42% increase compared to the same period last year.The rise has increased political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which took office nearly a year ago amid growing public dissatisfaction with the previous Conservative administration. Despite promising to do so, the last government failed to reduce the number of Channel crossings.Since assuming power, Labour scrapped the Conservatives’ controversial Rwanda deportation scheme, instead pledging to tackle the small boats issue by dismantling the people smuggling networks fuelling illegal migration.Starmer's government has prioritised international intelligence cooperation and tightened immigration rules.Despite joint efforts by both the British and French governments, the English Channel remains a prominent route for people fleeing war or poverty. Many migrants choose the UK due to linguistic ties, existing family connections or perceptions of easier asylum procedures and employment access.Footage taken on Saturday showed French police watching as migrants launched boats from Gravelines, situated between Calais and Dunkirk, before escorting them out to sea. French authorities confirmed they rescued 184 individuals.Defence Secretary John Healey told British media the scenes were “pretty shocking,” and described the inability of French officers to intervene in shallow waters as a “really big problem". “They’re not doing it, but, but for the first time for years…we’ve got the level of cooperation needed," he added.According to the British Home Office, 36,816 individuals crossed the Channel in small boats during 2024, marking a 25% rise on the previous year. The peak year remains 2022, when 45,774 people arrived via the route.