The number of illegal immigrants who have managed to reach the United Kingdom by sailing across the Channel in small boats has exceeded 50,000 since the Labour government came to power last year, according to official figures released today.

Between 5 July 2024 and 11 August 2025, 50,271 people arrived in the UK in this way, including 27,029 since the start of 2025, according to figures released by the Home Office.

The issue is a sensitive one for Labour Prime Minister Kire Starmer, who has made the fight against these weapons, particularly against trafficker networks, one of his priorities.

In 2022, a record year for migrant arrivals crossing the Channel in these boats, 45,774 people had arrived in the UK.

After a drop in 2023, illegal crossings recorded a clear increase last year (36,800) and data presented today for early 2025 appears to predict a new record.

Starmer is under pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party, which has seen its popularity rise in the polls.

Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch today criticised the government’s actions.

“Labour’s plan to eliminate gangs was just a slogan. The situation is far worse since Labour came to power and there is no plan,” he claimed.