Labour is on course to surpass the highest total of small boat arrivals ever recorded under a UK prime minister only 19 months after taking power, despite pledges by Keir Starmer to “smash the gangs.”
Figures show that about 65,703 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour won the election in July 2024, an average of more than 790 a week.
Three boats carrying dozens of people made the journey on Sunday and more arrivals were expected, developments that would take the total beyond the 65,811 recorded during the premiership of Boris Johnson.
Reaching that level so quickly would represent a stark contrast with Keir Starmer’s promise to “smash the gangs” behind the crossings and has intensified criticism that Labour’s approach has failed to curb the flow.
Since entering office, the government says it has set up a Border Security Command with counter terror style powers, struck new agreements with other countries and introduced a one in, one out returns arrangement with France. Ministers insist the policies are aimed at disrupting smuggling networks, but the continuing rise in numbers has fuelled claims that the measures are not yet delivering results.
Those doubts were underlined last week when Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs she could not guarantee that crossings would fall within a year, saying legislation would take time to pass.
“I’m confident that the measures announced will have an impact and start to bring numbers down. I can’t give you a timeline of exactly when all of that will happen, partly because we do have to pass legislation. That will necessarily take time,” she said.
Mr Johnson’s total of 65,811 crossings was accumulated over 1,140 days between July 2019 and September 2022, an average of about 404 a week. Sir Keir’s near record figure has been reached in just 584 days, meaning his weekly rate is almost double that of his Conservative predecessor, who sought to deter arrivals through plans to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda.
The size of boatloads has also increased sharply. Under Mr Johnson, 2,484 vessels made the crossing, carrying just over 26 people each on average. More than 1,100 boats have arrived so far during Sir Keir’s premiership, transporting roughly 59 migrants per dinghy, close to twice as many per trip.
Earlier leaders also faced growing pressure over Channel routes. Theresa May, later Baroness May, was still in office when numbers surged in late 2018 after her then home secretary Sajid Javid described the situation as a “major incident”. She stepped down seven months later having seen 1,051 crossings.
Rishi Sunak oversaw the third highest total, 50,637, while unsuccessfully attempting to implement the Rwanda scheme, with no forced removals carried out before the election despite flights being scheduled. Liz Truss, during her 45 days in office, saw 10,532 arrivals.
Home Office figures show that up to last September Iranians were the largest group crossing the Channel, followed by Afghans and Iraqis. In the first nine months of 2025 covered by official data, Eritreans became the most common nationality.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said:
“This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings. We have stopped 40,000 crossing attempts since this Government came into office through our joint work with the French. We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally.
“Our pilot deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“The Home Secretary has also announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”
