Nearly 900 Channel migrants arrive during Andy Burnham’s first week
In his first week at Number 10, Prime Minister Andy Burnham oversaw the arrival of nearly 900 migrants crossing the English Channel, reports BritPanorama.
Home Office figures reveal that 881 migrants made landfall in Dover since operations resumed on Wednesday, with significant attention drawn to a 42-foot-long dinghy carrying 165 individuals. This new arrival marks a record, surpassing the previous highest figure of 128 migrants from France aboard a single vessel.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized Burnham for not addressing the issue of small boat crossings during his initial days in office, stating, “Andy Burnham hasn’t even mentioned small boat crossings in his first week in office. He clearly has no plan to fix this issue.” In contrast, during Sir Keir Starmer’s first week as Prime Minister in July 2024, 546 individuals arrived in similar fashion.
Notably, the number of arrivals in 2026 thus far reaches 13,350, reflecting a 44% decrease compared to the same period last year. The Home Office emphasized its commitment to controlling small boat crossings, reporting record levels of removals and a 12% drop in asylum claims. “This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings,” it stated, adding that nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants have been removed or deported, an increase of 41%.
Furthermore, 44,000 attempted crossings have been halted since the general election. The situation escalated this past week when Sudanese national Chan Mathok Atak, 19, was charged with piloting the record-breaking mega-dinghy. He is scheduled to appear at Margate magistrates’ court today.
The unfolding situation underscores ongoing challenges surrounding migration and small boat crossings in the Channel, highlighting the complexities faced by new leadership in addressing these pressing issues.
