The UK Old Crisis: Rise in Migrant Channel Crossings 2024

The Rise in Migrant Channel Crossings in 2024 has reached records, reaching 36,816 people. However, the UK Government is unable to control the crossings. Indeed, there has been a 20% increase in illegal migration in the UK. On the other hand, a French report says the UK isn’t cooperating enough to curb migrant crossings across the Channel.

Conservatives promised to solve the problem by sending the asylum seekers to Rwanda and spent around £310m, for which there is no return.  Labour also promised to decrease the number of crossings. However, it refrains from delivering a clear path to solve the problem. Moreover, it believes that offering a magical number to aim for as the final number of immigrants is impractical. With the repeal of Rwanda’s deportation plan and the absence of a replacement, Starmer is under severe criticism.

Rise in Migrant Channel crossings 2024: Statistics

Home Office figures released on New Year’s Day show 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats throughout 2024, an increase on the previous year but not as many as in 2022.

Besides, the last group, 291 people, arrived on December 29. According to a United Nations agency, 2024 was the deadliest for the crossings.

Rise in Migrant Channel crossings 2024: Starmer under Criticism.

The number of small boat arrivals since Labour won the election on July 4 now stands at 20,110. Only after two boats carrying 122 people made it to Britain overnight. Over 20,000 migrants have now crossed the Channel. Thereafter, Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, came under fire for not appearing to make the issue a priority. The leaked analysis shows that this year’s total has reached 33,684.

The Government’s Plan for Change, published this week, will address legal and illegal immigration. However, migration is not one of Sir Keir’s five ‘missions.’ The missions do not mention migration. They include growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, secure power through clean energy, and opportunity for all.

Rise in Migrant Channel crossings 2024: No Number, Dream.

Mr McFadden told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire: “We’re not going to attach a numerical target. People are concerned about illegal and legal migration, so we are doing more about this. However, a simple numerical target in any given year that hasn’t worked well is not the approach. But we do want to reduce migration.”

“I don’t say targets don’t work in any circumstance, but numerical targets on migration have not had a happy history in recent years. Mr McFadden added that immigration levels would always “ebb and flow” depending on the economy. He said that setting a number as a magic number can not solve the problem, as history has proven. For instance, David Cameron said he wanted to reduce it to the tens of thousands and look where we are now.

Rise in Migrant Channel Crossings 2024: Labour Added to the Hotels

Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Victoria Atkins, the shadow environment secretary, said: “They’re not setting out any firm plan for change. We know, for example, that the Government is opening more hotels nationwide.

Labour added over 6,000 extra illegal immigrants to hotels in their first 3 months despite promising to end hotel use. It’s not surprising that Starmer has presided over this fiasco. This is the man who once said immigration laws are “racist.” Keir Starmer does not care about stopping illegal immigration, so Labour voted against toughening the law 134 times in the last Parliament.

Sunak Wasted Money; Starmer Makes Vague Promises

Lucy Moreton of the ISU union, which represents Border Force staff, said that boats will continue arriving in increasing numbers. Many people in France want to make that crossing. There will be a rise in migrant Channel crossings in 2024, and no one knows when and how to stop it.

Rishi Sunak’s vow to “stop the boats” failed; However, he spent over £300m on the asylum seekers’ plan to send them to Rwanda. Moreover, Labour promised the electorate to “smash the criminal boat gangs.” Moreton says that officials are waiting to see what the new body will look like.  They expect it to take several months, and it is unclear what the manifesto promises mean in practice.

Smugglers More Tactful Than Government

Smugglers have repeatedly changed tactics to oppose the security operations run by the UK fund on the French coast in the north. They launch boats from different locations and take migrants out to dinghies already at sea.

A Home Office civil servant says the UK has enforced the border control to the strongest possible. However, the “gangs are very adaptive. They keep outsmarting most provisions.” The official took issue with the Labour Manifesto’s description of the small boats crisis as “fueled by dangerous criminal smuggler gangs.” They said that smugglers were “offering an illegal service to those in need” because there were no alternative ways for refugees to reach Britain.

Rwanda Plan is Dead with No Replacement

The Rwanda plan to send asylum seekers, as recommended by the Government, is not being implemented. Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the Rwanda deportation scheme is “dead and buried” on his first full day as prime minister. The Labour leader said he would end the “gimmick” of deporting migrants arriving in the UK illegally to Rwanda.

Labour promised to abandon the Rwanda Plan, which has already cost around £310m, and replace it with a more practical approach to tackling illegal immigration. The vague scheme does not have clear financial implications or a clear bill for taxpayers. Ending the Rwanda plan raises a bigger question: What will happen to the 52,000 migrants earmarked for deportation?

Smashing Plan of the Labor with No Details

Labour promised to reduce the number of small boats crossing the Channel. It aimed to hire investigators and use some counter-terror power. It wants to smash smugglers. Labour has not yet provided any precise details for its scheme. The Labour leader said he would use the money saved to hire specialist investigators to tackle small boats crossing the Channel.

Kevin Saunders, former chief immigration officer for Border Force, expressed concern about Labour’s lack of a clear plan to stop small boat crossings. According to his prediction, 50 to 60,000 illegal migrants may cross the English Channel this year.

The UK’s Non-cooperation with France

A French report says the UK isn’t cooperating enough to curb migrant crossings across the Channel. The United Kingdom does not provide sufficient coordination with France to minimize/reduce the number of illegal migrations through the English Channel. The report points out that the policies to control illegal migration to the UK are ineffective. The report above believes that the information regarding the names and nationalities of migrants is not clear enough. Therefore, this information and intelligence exchange has created an unbalanced relationship between France and the UK.

According to a report published Thursday by France’s Court of Accounts, the country is “struggling to develop operational cooperation arrangements” with the UK. This struggle is independent of the Government and Parliament.