Labour has been ridiculed after its claim to have broken the link between good weather and Channel migrant crossings spectacularly fell apart – with more than 1,500 arrivals in the first sunny week of the year. In December, ministers boasted they were confident that deterrents meant people smugglers could no longer take advantage of calm seas.
Its own analysis suggested people smugglers were put off making perilous journeys on “red days”, when there is low wind and calm waters. However, its confidence has now come to a crashing halt after government statistics showed 1,613 migrants made the journey in the first sunny week of 2025.
On Saturday, 68 made the crossing, followed by 592 on Sunday in 11 boats. On Monday, 182 followed, with 326 on Tuesday, 210 on Wednesday and 235 on Thursday.
This year’s crossing figures are already at record levels for any year so far, in stark contrast to Sir Keir Starmer’s promise to “smash the gangs” and stop migrant crossings.
It suggests migrant crossings are still largely dictated by weather.
Responding to the past six days-worth of migrant crossings, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the Express: “Labour has lost control of our borders.
“They should never have cancelled the Rwanda deterrent before it even started.
“Crossings are up 26% since the election as a result and this year so far is the worst on record.
“Labour must urgently introduce a removals deterrent – illegal immigrants crossing the Channel should be immediately kicked out to their country of origin or a safe third country like Rwanda.
“But this weak Government and weak Prime Minister won’t do that.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.”
“We are delivering real change in our approach through legislation to create new tools, powers, offences and enforcement action which will keep us one step ahead of the people-smuggling gangs.”
Earlier this week, Sir Keir’s spokesman defended the Government’s plan to stop migrant crossings despite the week’s dreadful figures.
He said: “We inherited a system in chaos, and we’ve all said that there are no quick fixes to curb the global problem of illegal migration.
“But we put in place a serious and credible plan. Set up this new Border Security Command. We’ve ramped up removals.
“We’ve given law enforcement greater powers than ever to take down these [people smuggling] gangs.
“You’ve seen with our collaboration across borders with other agencies, significant arrests and disruption of people smuggling gangs across Europe in recent weeks and months.
“You’ve seen us returning 19,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals, ramping up the level of illegal working arrests and visits and we will remain focused on taking all the action needed.”
