Prime Minister Andy Burnham faced accusations of being out of touch with reality as images surfaced of migrants heading for the UK, just hours after he asserted that his plan to halt small boat crossings was effective.
On Tuesday, dozens of individuals were observed attempting to board a smuggler's dinghy at Hardelot-Plage, south of Boulogne. Later that day, a heavily laden inflatable was seen crossing the English Channel, with French officials distributing lifejackets to migrants. This occurred despite claims from the Labour party that a recent agreement with the French government would lead to a reduction in departures.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who observed migrant vessels from the Channel, stated, "We've seen well over 1,000 illegal immigrants cross in just the last few days." He criticized the government's agreement with France, asserting, "Shabana Mahmood's deal with the French is not working – I witnessed with my own eyes today the French doing nothing to stop a migrant boat and even helped by handing out lifejackets." Philp further commented on the scale of the crossings, noting the appearance of "mega dinghies" capable of carrying over 150 migrants, which he dubbed "Burnham Boats."
Philp contended that "The only thing protecting our borders is the weather" and suggested that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights would expedite deportations and deter crossings. His remarks followed Prime Minister Burnham's earlier statement that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's "very rigorous" strategy was reducing illegal entries, with small-boat crossings reportedly "down quite significantly" compared to the previous year, although he acknowledged more work was needed.
However, recent Home Office statistics indicate that approximately 881 migrants arrived in the UK via small boats during the first week of Burnham's premiership. These arrivals were spread across 13 vessels, including one instance on Thursday of a "mega-dinghy" carrying a record 165 migrants.
Burnham has faced criticism for his perceived silence on the issue of illegal migration since assuming office on July 20. Critics have pointed to his focus on domestic issues such as energy bills, bus fares, and a controversial "No 10 North" initiative during his initial days in power.
During a visit to Derby, Burnham defended the government's approach, telling reporters, "The Home Secretary has brought forward a very rigorous plan in relation to this. Let's remember, the numbers can fluctuate, but overall, boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year. So that does suggest that the plan is working."
When questioned about whether small-boat crossings posed a "threat to national security," Burnham stated his commitment to ensuring "all relevant and necessary checks" are completed to prevent individuals from entering without adequate safeguards. He acknowledged public desire for control over borders, adding, "while we've made progress, there is more to do, and I recognise that completely. But the trend is down, and the number of people being removed is up, so the figures are pointing in a better direction. But there is much more to do."
Analysis of government data indicates that 77,183 migrants arrived in the UK via the Channel during the period following Labour's general election victory in July 2024. Home Office figures report 13,350 arrivals this year, a figure that is 45 percent lower than recorded by this time last year and 16 percent down on the same period in 2024.