Minister admits government hasn’t tackled small boats crisis as crossings set to hit 50,000
Minister blames previous government for small boats crisis
- Baroness Jacqui Smith, a Home Office minister, has conceded that the government has not yet “managed to tackle” the small boats crisis, but blamed the previous administration for its origins.
- The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel since Labour assumed power just over 400 days ago currently stands at 49,797.
- Conversely, it took the Boris Johnson government 1,066 days to reach the milestone of 50,000 crossings and the Rishi Sunak government 603 days.
- The government has introduced a new "one in, one out" returns agreement with France and expanded its "deport now, appeal later" scheme for foreign criminals.
- Ministers face increasing pressure to address the issue, driven by record high crossings, a substantial asylum seeker backlog, public discontent, and the growing influence of Reform UK.