More than 20,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats since Labour came to power.
A total of 20,110 people in small boats have now arrived in the UK since the election on 4 July after two boats carrying 122 people reached British waters overnight, according to leaked analysis obtained by Sky News and The Guardian.
Sky News reported on Saturday morning the two boats had arrived – the first since 16 November, while the French authorities said 151 people were rescued in the Channel and taken back to France overnight into Sunday morning.
Before then, 19,988 crossings had been recorded since Labour won the election on 4 July.
The total for the year is now 33,684, with more crossings since the five months Labour have been in power than the first six months, when the Conservatives were in government.
The number of crossings since Labour won the election is 15% higher than the same period last year.
However, Labour sources said the 13,574 crossings from January to July were “unprecedented” for that time of year and were a 19% increase on the same period in 2023, 5% higher than 2022 and more than double 2021.
