Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing accusations of being out of touch after migrants were observed attempting to cross the English Channel just hours after he asserted that the government's strategy for intercepting small boats was effective. Fresh images surfaced on Tuesday showing dozens of individuals, including families with young children, scrambling through surf at Hardelot-Plage, south of Boulogne, to board a dinghy. Later, another inflatable vessel was seen crossing the Channel as French officials provided lifejackets to migrants.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who observed migrant vessels in the Channel, stated that "well over 1,000 illegal immigrants" had crossed in recent days. He criticized the deal with the French government, claiming it was "not working" and that he witnessed French officials "doing nothing to stop a migrant boat and even helped by handing out lifejackets." Philp also noted the appearance of "mega dinghies" carrying over 150 migrants, a reality he believes Burnham is disconnected from. He suggested leaving the European Convention on Human Rights as a means to deport illegal immigrants within a week of arrival, thereby deterring crossings.
Philp's comments followed Prime Minister Burnham's assertion that the Home Secretary's "very rigorous plan" was leading to a significant decrease in illegal entries. Burnham stated that small-boat crossings were "down quite significantly" compared to the previous year, though he acknowledged that "there is much more to do."
However, Home Office statistics indicate that approximately 881 migrants arrived in the UK via small boats during the first week of Burnham's premiership, which began on July 20. These arrivals were spread across 13 vessels, including one "mega-dinghy" that carried a record 165 migrants on a single Thursday. Critics have pointed to Burnham's perceived silence on the issue of illegal migration during his initial public appearances as prime minister, during which he focused on domestic policy issues such as energy bills, bus fares, and a new site in Manchester.
During a visit to Derby, Burnham defended his government's approach, telling reporters that the numbers of crossings were down year-on-year, suggesting the plan was effective. He also emphasized the importance of "rigorous checks" to ensure people are not entering without adequate safeguards. He committed to ensuring all necessary checks are completed and acknowledged that while progress has been made, more work is needed. He added that the trend is downward and the number of people being removed is increasing, indicating a positive direction.
Analysis of government data shows that 77,183 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel during the previous premiership. According to Home Office figures, 13,350 arrivals have been recorded this year to date, a 45 percent decrease compared to the same period last year and a 16 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. The Prime Minister's office indicated that his second week in power would focus on addressing issues such as youth unemployment, social care, defense spending, and economic growth.