Labour had promised to “smash the gangs” responsible for smuggling people across the dangerous waters.
Labour admits it hasn’t tackled small boat crossings ‘yet’ (Image: Getty)
Labour admitted it hasn’t solved small boat crossings “yet” after more than 40,000 people crossed the Channel this year.
The UK has given France around half a billion pounds to tackle small boat crossings, which are run by illegal smuggling gangs that charge exorbitant sums for the perilous journey. Asked if she’d begun to solve the issue, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Sky News: “Not yet”, later admitting it was a “lot of money”.
She said: “We are working very closely with our partners in France, particularly in the North of France. But actually further upstream in Europe as well.”
When Sky’s Trevor Phillips challenged the home secretary on why the crossings have not begun to stop, Ms Mahmood said Labour had prevented 20,000 crossings this year, working with France.
She added: “It’s a lot of money and we have learned a lot since we’ve been in government about which all the interventions that work, and those are the interventions that we want to focus our efforts on with our partners in France. But this is a difficult challenge.”
The 40,000 milestone was reached after more than 700 migrants made the dangerous journey on 11 boats on Saturday, following 28 days of no crossings. Witnesses said that between 55 and 80 people had been crammed into 40-ft inflatable boats.
The plan to “smash the gangs” was a focal point of Sir Keir Starmer’s ministerial campaign in 2024. In November last year, he announced plans to create a new Border Security Command.
Some 40,000 people have crossed the Channel this year (Image: Getty)
Labour has set up agreements with France to tackle the crossings, including its “one in, one out” scheme, announced in July.
Under the treaty, France agreed to take back migrants who had travelled to the UK by small boat and had their asylum claim withdrawn or declared inadmissible.
For each person returned to France, the UK will accept someone with a case for protection as a refugee who has not attempted to cross the Channel.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better.
“This Government is taking action. We have removed almost 50,000 people who were here illegally, and our historic deal with the French means those who arrive on small boats are now being sent back.
“The Home Secretary has announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, removing the incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up the return of those with no right to be here.”
