Britain has passed another grim migration milestone after the 150,000th illegal migrant arrived on England’s shores via small boat in just seven years.
Home Office statistics published on Friday revealed that Boxing Day saw 407 people make the journey in 10 boats – and further photographs from December 27 suggest even more have followed.
That comes after 451 people illegally crossed the Channel on Christmas Day, bringing the total number of arrivals since January 1, 2018, to 150,243 – that’s more than the population of York.
The figures have sparked a furious war of words between Labour and the Conservatives – both of which have overseen tens of thousands of criminal crossings to Britain.
Five consecutive Prime Ministers have overseen the illegal arrivals of enough people to fill the city of York
PA
A spokesman for the Home Office said the Tories “left an appalling legacy of broken border security” as it talked up Yvette Cooper’s “smash the gangs” pledge.
But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said it was “an insult that Labour has allowed 858 illegal immigrants into the country on Christmas Day and Boxing Day”.
He later said on social media: “France is safe – none needed to cross to flee danger.
“We have been let down again by Labour. Their Christmas gift to the British public appears to be uncontrolled and unlimited illegal immigration.”
MORE ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS:
More than 22,324 people arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel since the General Election
GB NEWS
But as the finger-pointing continued between the two parties which have contended with seven years of small boats, Reform UK leapt into the debate with a scathing swipe from the sidelines.
Replying to Philp’s social media statement, Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe said: “This doesn’t fly Chris when the Tories, your party, opened our borders in such an unprecedented fashion.
“Yes Labour has let us down. But so did you… Again and again.”
More than 22,324 people arrived in Britain after crossing the Channel since the General Election – up 24 per cent on the same period in 2023, but down 32 per cent on the record year of 2022.
So far this year, 35,898 migrants have arrived in the UK on small boats
PA
So far this year, 35,898 migrants have arrived in the UK on small boats, provisional Home Office figures show.
The full Home Office statement reads: “The Tories left an appalling legacy of broken border security.
“We are fixing the foundations with a new Border Security Command, 100 new specialist investigators and new agreements with Europe and beyond to break up the business models of the evil criminal gangs making millions from small boat crossings.
“We are increasing removals of those with no right to be here and are clamping down on illegal working.”
