The number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats fell by almost a third in Rishi Sunak's last year as prime minister, reaching 31,493 arrivals, a 29 percent fall from the previous year. This significant decrease puts pressure on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to maintain this downward trend as the general election approaches.
James Cleverly emphasized the need for action on migration saying, 'When I said I was going to cut migration, I meant it. It's not about words, it's about delivery.' This reflects a decisive stance towards reducing overall migration numbers and improving border controls.
Home Office data revealed a worrying trend despite the decrease in small boat arrivals; the average number of people per boat increased to 51, indicating that overcrowding poses a greater risk of tragedies at sea, as smuggling gangs adapt their methods.
Although there was a notable drop in small boat crossings over the last year, early data for the first half of 2024 shows that crossings have actually surged by a fifth compared to the same timeframe in 2023, indicating ongoing challenges in managing this crisis.
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