More than 25,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year – the earliest the figure has been reached.
Almost 900 migrants (898) were detected crossing the Channel on Wednesday, in 13 boats – bringing the total number of arrivals recorded since 1 January to 25,436.
Last year, the number of arrivals didn’t pass 25,000 until 22 September. At this point last year, 16,842 people had crossed, and this is the earliest the 25,000 figure has been passed since records began in 2018.
Politics latest: Small boat record passed
The record will signal further struggles for the government as it looks to reduce the number of people entering the UK clandestinely.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to “smash the gangs”, after Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” failed.
Responding to the latest figures, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on social media: “898 illegals crossed the English Channel yesterday.
“This means more hotels, more costs and more people who should not be here.
“The public have had ENOUGH!”
Last week, US President Donald Trump said the UK is “doing a fantastic thing” by trying to reduce crossings.
He did concede, however, that he knows “nothing about the boats” crossing the Channel.
Trump added: “But if the boats are loaded up with bad people, and they usually are, because, you know, other countries don’t send their best, they send people that they don’t want, and they’re not stupid people, and they send the people that they don’t want.”
Read more:
This flimsy dinghy most likely took 50 people to Britain
People smuggler jailed for 25 years
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈
Last week, the government announced a swathe of sanctions on 25 individuals aimed at disrupting smuggling gangs.
This included a small boat supplier in Asia and gang leaders based in the Balkans and North Africa.
The Hawala money transfer system was also targeted.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
