Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting criticism as Channel migrant crossings hit record levels, with over 6,600 arrivals in the first three months of 2024 the highest ever recorded for this period.
The figures emerged as Starmer hosted an international summit at London’s Lancaster House, bringing together representatives from more than 40 countries to address the small boats crisis.
During the summit, Starmer compared the fight against people-smuggling networks to global efforts supporting Ukraine, declaring “We can only deliver security by taking bold action at home.
However, critics argue the government’s approach lacks sufficient deterrents, particularly after scrapping the Rwanda deportation scheme without implementing an alternative.
Border Force Commander Martin Hewitt acknowledged the UK remains a “highly attractive” destination, with many migrants disappearing after filing asylum claims.
The French government has pledged to intercept more boats in shallow waters, but refuses to take back migrants intercepted at sea – a measure UK officials believe would significantly reduce crossings.
Meanwhile, deportation efforts remain hampered by legal and diplomatic obstacles, particularly for migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Syria.
Labour points to its crackdown on illegal working and efforts to disrupt smuggling finances, but with arrivals continuing at record pace, pressure is growing on Starmer to deliver concrete results.
The absence of a functioning deportation system and France’s reluctance to adopt more aggressive interception tactics suggest the crisis may worsen before it improves, leaving the Prime Minister’s tough rhetoric increasingly disconnected from the reality on the ground.
