Migrant crisis: More small boats have reached Britain since Labour took over than under the Tories
One of Labour's first acts in Government was to scrap the Conservatives' Rwanda scheme, which aimed to act as a deterrent
PA Media
More small boats have reached Britain under the Labour Government than the Conservatives' administration this year, according to Home Office figures.
Government data has revealed that 13,574 migrants crossed the Channel during the Conservative Government this year between January 1 and July 4.
However, in just over three months of Keir Starmer's Labour, the number of boat crossing has already reached 13,759.
This has followed the news that an average of 135 small boat migrants have crossed the English Channel each day of Labour's first 100 days in Government.
Currently, over 27,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, which is slightly up on the same figure this time last year
PA Media
Currently, over 27,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, which is slightly up on the same figure this time last year.
Last month, former Tory immigration minister Robert Jenrick claimed that migrants with links to Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have "waltzed right in" on small boats.
The leadership candidate said that the Home Secretary's removal of the Tories' Rwanda scheme had risked lives by allowing the UK to be more susceptible to acts of terrorism.
Additionally, he claimed that at least a thousand of individuals arriving to the UK on small boats were "connected to criminality".
Paul Holmes, shadow Immigration Minister, said: “It comes as no surprise that Labour’s vacuous statement to ‘smash the gangs’ has had absolutely no impact on bringing down the numbers crossing the channel.
“Less than 100 days in, the Home Secretary under siege from sleaze allegations, has allowed people who come to the UK illegally to claim asylum, she has ripped up the deterrent the National Crime Agency said we needed, and simply re-announced the Border Command the last Conservative Government established.
“Labour have shown time and time again that they have no plan.
"They have officially opened the doors to people smugglers.”
Last Friday and Saturday, 613 people were intercepted by government agency Border Force and brought to Dover.
This year has seen some of the deadliest figures for small boat crossings as a minimum of 45 migrants have died so far this year
A Home Office spokesman said: "As we have seen with so many recent devastating tragedies in the Channel, the people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay.
"We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
"We are making progress, bolstering our personnel numbers in the UK and abroad.
"Our new Border Security Command will strengthen our global partnerships and enhance our efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute these evil criminals."
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