Sir Keir Starmer was accused of at the weekend after 1,194 migrants crossed the Channel in a single day. The figure, which was the highest number of arrivals in 24 hours this year, saw British and French rescue services deploy 11 vessels and two aircraft to aid those crossing.

over three years to reduce Channel migrant crossings, but have made the journey so far this year - a rise of more than 30% compared with the same point in 2024. Home Office figures showed 8,347 asylum seekers have been prevented from reaching UK waters in a small boat.

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With 13,167 people crossing over the same time period, it suggests France is intercepting fewer than 40% of people despite Britain agreeing to pay more than £480,000 every day this financial year.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp believes that to stop illegal migration by failing to deal with the issue.

He told the : "Stopping under 40% of illegal immigrants attempting to cross is pathetic. Even the 40% stopped are simply let go by the French and they just attempt to cross the next day instead.

"The French should do what the Belgians do and forcibly intercept boats at sea near the French shore and return them to France. This would soon stop the crossings - which is in France's interests too as then the illegal immigrants would not congregate around Calais.

"Otherwise, every single illegal immigrant who arrives in the UK should be immediately removed to a location outside Europe, for example, Rwanda. Labour's claim to smash the gangs lies in tatters, with 37,000 illegal immigrants having arrived since the election, and 2025 so far has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants. Labour has lost control of our borders."

Ministers have blamed the country's recent good weather on the weather. Officials say there have been twice as many "red days"-when the Channel is easier to cross by small boats-compared with last year.