Small boats situation getting worse, says No 10
- More than 16,300 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats during 2025, marking a 43% rise from 2024 and the worst year on record.
- This increase occurred despite a 2023 deal in which the UK gave France nearly £500 million over three years to fund extra officers aimed at stopping journeys.
- French police teargassed migrants near Gravelines on a Tuesday morning as some migrants still entered the water to board overloaded dinghies for the crossing.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighted the serious challenge, signaling visa restrictions for countries failing on returns agreements and promising innovative joint approaches with France and European partners.
- The deteriorating situation prompted plans for a UK-France summit focused on migration in July and commitments to continue close cooperation but acknowledged no quick fixes exist.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Labour faces a long hot summer of misery in the Channel. Even the MSM is waking up to the crisis - Mark White
For almost a year, the Prime Minister has refused to deviate from that well-worn mantra of "we're smashing the gangs".But however much he believes that to be the case, with every new small boat arrival, it's an assertion that looks increasingly absurd.We're now well over 17,000 arrivals so far this year, and the numbers are only going in one direction.The figure is close to 50 per cent higher than the number of Channel migrants who made the ille…

Channel crisis ‘deteriorating’, No 10 admits as French use tear gas on migrants
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have discussed further action to address the problem.
Keir Starmer makes major visa threat to countries that don't sign asylum returns deals - The Mirror
Keir Starmer said the UK is looking at a more 'transactional' approach which would see countries that refuse to take back failed asylum seekers given fewer visas
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