UK immigration crossings double under Labour government, new data shows
The number of migrants crossing the Channel has doubled since Labour took power, with 32,900 asylum seekers arriving this year. Since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July, an average of 150 migrants have crossed daily, compared to 74 before the election. The average number of people per boat has also increased, from 49 to 55. Recent reports indicate that October was the busiest month for crossings since October 2022, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current measures against people smuggling. Starmer has proposed increased cooperation with European nations to combat smuggling. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has signed agreements to enhance intelligence sharing with countries in the Western Balkans to address the issue.