50,000 migrants have crossed Channel on small boats since Labour took power

WorldPolitics
12 Aug 2025 • 9:28 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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More than 50,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel since Labour won the 2024 general election.

Home Office figures showed 474 migrants arrived by small boat on Monday.

Labour former home secretary Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern had said earlier on Tuesday that reaching the milestone was “unacceptable”.

But Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour’s promise to “smash the criminal boat gangs” in its manifesto last year was “just a slogan”, with crossings now “so much worse” than they were before last year’s vote.

There have been 27,029 arrivals so far this year, which is 47% higher than at the same point of 2024 when the figure stood at 18,342, and 67% higher than at the same time in 2023 (16,170).

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