The number of refugees and migrants crossing the English Channel into the United Kingdom has reached a record high, with over 25,000 people making the perilous journey so far this year. The latest figures show that nearly 900 refugees and migrants arrived in the UK in 13 small boats on Wednesday alone, bringing the total number of arrivals in 2025 to 25,436. This milestone is likely to intensify political scrutiny over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s handling of undocumented migration.
The UK’s Labour government has pledged to take tougher action on smuggling networks, with Starmer vowing to “smash the gangs” responsible for transporting people across the Channel. However, opposition politicians have seized on the latest numbers to criticize Labour’s approach. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said, “Almost 900 people crossed the Channel yesterday, meaning 25,000 people, mainly young men, have crossed the Channel this year. [And] 2025 is the worst year on record so far, and the Labour Government are doing nothing to stop the crossings.”
Philp also criticized the government’s “one in, one out” deal with France, which aims to return asylum seekers who have crossed the Channel illegally in exchange for allowing a different individual to enter the UK via a safe route. “Their 17 in, one out deal with France will not even make a dent – it would take 10 years for [Home Secretary] Yvette Cooper to deport the illegal immigrants that have arrived since the start of this year alone under her so-called deal, which still hasn’t started,” Philp said.
Radical right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage echoed those criticisms, writing 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!” The issue of migrant crossings has sparked a heated debate in the UK, with some politicians calling for tougher action to deter asylum seekers.
In contrast, US President Donald Trump praised the UK government’s efforts, saying it was “doing a fantastic thing” by addressing the issue, although he admitted knowing “nothing about the boats”. The UK government’s approach to migrant crossings has been under scrutiny, with some critics arguing that it is not doing enough to prevent the crossings. The “one in, one out” policy has been met with skepticism by some, who argue that it will not effectively address the issue.
The issue of migrant crossings is a complex one, with many factors contributing to the flow of people across the Channel. The UK government faces pressure to find a solution that balances the need to control borders with the obligation to provide a safe haven for those fleeing persecution and violence. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the government will address the issue and whether its policies will be effective in reducing the number of migrant crossings.