More small boat migrants arrive in Britain the day after PM unveiled new returns deal with France
The latest small boats arrivals at Dover this morning (Image: PA)
More migrants arrived in Dover this morning the day after Sir Keir Starmer announced a new returns deal with France. People wearing life jackets were pictured being brought ashore after making the dangerous journey from France.
The latest small boat arrivals come after the Prime Minister unveiled a one in, one out agreement at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. Under the pilot scheme, for each migrant sent back across the English Channel an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.
Over 21,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats in 2025 (Image: PA)
Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Starmer can talk all he likes, but illegal immigrants continue to flood in. Labour has lost control of our borders.
“This year so far has been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel. Their gimmick to smash the gangs has been exposed as a sham.
“And now they are trying another fake gimmick – saying that allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will be a deterrent. Keir Starmer is a weak Prime Minister who can’t protect our borders.”
Some 573 migrants arrived in the UK yesterday as Sir Keir unveiled his new deal. The cumulative number for 2025 now stands at a provisional total of 21,690, which is a record for this point in a year.
The PM described the new agreement with France as “groundbreaking” during the press conference.
He said: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.
“For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.
The arrivals come the day after a new returns deal with France was announced (Image: PA)
“In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally.”
The Prime Minister said the pilot scheme, which will begin within weeks, “will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain”.
During the press conference, Mr Macron took a swipe at Brexit as he blamed Britain’s departure from the EU for the spiralling Channel crisis.
The Government has refused to set out figures on how many people will be covered by the proposals.
But reports have suggested it could be just 50 a week which pales in comparison to the weekly average this year of 782 small boat arrivals.
Some 21,117 migrants have made the crossing in 2025 in what is a record for this point in a year.
