POLL: Do you think Keir Starmer can stop the migrant boats?
Over 40,000 migrants have arrived on Britain’s beaches on small boats since Starmer arrived (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer entered Downing Street last year with a promise to “smash the gangs” and stop the boats. However, 40,000 migrants have arrived on Britain’s beaches on small boats since the Prime Minister entered Downing Street.
When Sir Keir took office he scrapped the previous government’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda but failed to put anything else in its place. Earlier this week, migrants were pictured leaving France on a small boat headed to the UK just hours before Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were set to unveil a UK-France immigration deal. It came after Nigel Farage was filmed watching a dinghy being intercepted by the French Navy on Thursday.
Keir Starmer has a horrendous when it comes to stopping migrants (Image: Getty)
Border Force intercepted a dinghy in the English Channel with 78 people on board, according to The Times.
Earlier, the UK coastguard said it was tackling “multiple incidents involving small boats”. Migrants in Calais told the BBC they will try “again and again” to reach the UK.
Under the deal being thrashed out by France and the UK during Emmanuel Macron‘s state visit, the “one-in, one-out” policy will result in around 800 migrants being returned to France by the end of the year.
This year so far, 330 boats have illegally arrived to UK shores carrying migrants.
Boats have been carrying an average of 58 migrants each this year, up substantially from 48 per boat in 2023 and 53 last year, according to The Indpendent.
Earlier this year Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Starmer is right, under his watch, the Channel crisis is spiralling out of control. 2025 is so far the worst year on record with over 16,000 illegal crossings already this year – 42 per cent more than last year.
“And what’s Labour’s answer? To ask the British taxpayer to foot the bill for their accommodation or to pay half a billion pounds for the French to wave the boats off and do next to nothing to prevent Channel crossings.”
