Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” is in shambles after recent data showed a record number of migrants who crossed the Channel in the first three months of 2024.
The current figure represented a notable increase, standing at around one-fifth higher than the total recorded at this point in 2022. Also, 2022 marked the year with the highest number of small boat crossings on record.
Over the weekend, the total number of arrivals experienced a significant increase, largely due to the calm weather conditions in the Channel. This surge has resulted in the busiest Easter bank holiday weekend for Channel crossings ever recorded.
Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said the Conservatives had “overseen an unprecedented level of dangerous Channel crossings this Easter bank holiday”.
Mr Kinnock said, “Over the Christmas break, they were quick to claim credit for the low number of crossings, so where are the home secretary and prime minister now when we’ve seen almost 800 people arrive in small boats over the bank holiday weekend?”
After Christmas, James Cleverly boasted on social media that “there were no small boat arrivals over Christmas for the first time since they started in 2018”.
“This is complete chaos. It’s time the Tories got a grip,” Mr Kinnock added.
The Labour Member of Parliament urged the government to adopt his party’s proposal aimed at targeting people smuggling networks and establishing a new returns and enforcement unit.
In January 2023, Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined his five pledges to voters, with one of them being to “stop the boats.” A central component of this strategy involves a plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, the legislation necessary to enact this plan did not pass before Easter, as the House of Lords inflicted several defeats on the government.
Furthermore, ministers opted not to rush the legislation through before the parliamentary recess. The bill will now be deliberated by Members of Parliament when Parliament reconvenes on April 15. It is expected that the House of Commons would reverse the latest amendments made by the Lords and return it to the upper chamber for further consideration.
Sunak Defends His Strategy
The Prime Minister asserted that his strategy to curb Channel crossings is yielding results, citing a one-third decrease in numbers last year. However, critics have attributed this decline to adverse weather conditions and are pointing to the record-breaking start to 2024 as evidence that the government’s pledge will not be fulfilled.
Illegal Migration Minister, Michael Tomlinson said, “While Labour continues to snipe from the sidelines at our plan to tackle illegal migration, it is clear that they have no plan at all.”
“In fact, Labour voted 118 times against measures that the Conservatives have created to secure our borders, and when Starmer chose his five missions for the government there was no mention of immigration whatsoever. The numbers of illegal migrants would only go up under Labour who are determined to scrap a working deterrent in the Rwanda plan.”
Michael Tomlinson
He highlighted the Conservative Party’s commitment to its strategy, which has already resulted in a one-third reduction in small boat arrivals and the removal of 24,000 individuals last year alone, with ongoing efforts to increase these numbers.
Tomlinson concluded by stressing the importance of adhering to the Conservative plan to prevent a regression to square one under a Labour government.
It is worth noting that implementing effective policies to deter illegal crossings involve navigating a complex legal framework. While Sunak pledged to pass new laws to stop small boats, the practical enforcement and effectiveness of such legislation remain uncertain.
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