Prime Minister Andy Burnham was observed jogging near his home in Cheshire as new arrivals by small boat continued to cross the English Channel. This comes during his first week as Prime Minister, a period marked by over 500 migrant arrivals.
On Saturday, two individuals arrived in a dinghy at the Border Security Command compound in Dover, Kent, after reportedly being rescued by the RNLI. This crossing followed a record 165 migrants arriving in a single vessel, described as a "mega dinghy," two days prior. The large boat was approximately 42 feet long.
More than 500 small-boat migrants have arrived in the UK during Burnham's initial week, with data showing 103 arrivals on Friday across two boats. The year-to-date total for small-boat arrivals stands at 13,110. The number of arrivals this year is over 40 percent lower than the same period in the previous year.
Burnham has faced criticism for not addressing immigration during his first week, with his focus instead on issues such as lowering bills and bus fares. He also marked the launch of his 'No10 North' initiative as the "best day of my life."
Political figures have voiced concerns about the situation. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage labeled Burnham "open borders Burnham," stating he would not take action to halt crossings. Labour peer Lord Glasman urged a more assertive approach, suggesting the deployment of the Royal Navy to the Channel to intercept boats and a more aggressive stance towards the French government.
Official figures indicate that small-boat migrants constituted seven percent of deportations last year, implying that the majority are not deported. A Home Office spokesperson stated that removals of small-boat migrants are at record levels and asylum claims have decreased by 12 percent. The previous single-boat record for migrant arrivals was 128 people, surpassed by the recent 165.
Since July 2024, over 77,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via the Channel. Total arrivals since record-keeping began in 2018 exceed 200,000. Experts suggest that crossings could increase, despite a recent slowdown attributed to windy weather and rougher seas. Wednesday's crossings were the first recorded since July 10.