Rishi Sunak’s premiership now accounts for a 3rd of small boat arrivals

A 3rd of small boat arrivals since 2018 have now taken place on Rishi Sunak’s watch, after 52 individuals made the perilous Channel crossing on Friday.

New evaluation discovered the whole variety of arrivals since Sunak took workplace had risen to 38,668 – greater than a 3rd of the 115,927 who’ve crossed the channel for the reason that disaster started in January 2018.

Despite Sunak’s repeated claims that his plan to cease the boats is working, yesterday’s arrivals take the 2024 whole to 1,605, nearly 19% greater than had crossed by this level in 2022

Labour ’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the figures present “ Rishi Sunak isn’t the solution, he is part of the problem.”

“Time and again he goes for gimmick rather than getting a grip. By focusing solely on getting off a few symbolic flights to Rwanda at massive cost to the taxpayer, he has taken his eye off the vital task of stopping the criminal smuggler gangs,” she stated.

“From the recession to record NHS waiting lists to small boats, the very pledges that Rishi Sunak asked to be judged against now lie in tatters. No wonder the people of Kingswood and Wellingborough told him this week that they are sick of fourteen years of Tory failure, and want the change that only a Labour government will bring.”

She added: “There is a massive gap between Rishi Sunak’s rhetoric and reality. Despite all his promises that he would stop the boats last year, a third of all the small boat arrivals since 2018 have arrived under Rishi Sunak’s watch, even though he has been Prime Minister for less than sixteen months.

“Only Labour has a severe plan on border safety. We will crack down on smuggling gangs, clear the backlog, finish the expensive use of asylum resorts and arrange a brand new Returns and Enforcement Unit to return individuals who shouldn’t be right here.”