Stop the boats pledge in tatters as arrivals would fill Premier League stadium

Rishi Sunak is below hearth after the variety of individuals arriving by small boat on his watch handed 40,000.

The PM has pledged to cease the boats, however 401 arrivals on Monday means 40,046 individuals have reached the UK this fashion since October 24, 2022. This is greater than the capability at 11 Premier League grounds – and simply 127 shy of the variety of seats at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.

Since the beginning of 2024 there have been 2,983 small boat arrivals, up barely from the two,953 at this level final 12 months. The determine is a 3rd greater than the identical interval in 2022. The PM is below strain to lastly cease individuals making the damaging journey, which is feared to have claimed 4 lives prior to now week.

It means the variety of individuals arriving by small boat throughout Mr Sunak’s time in cost may greater than fill the grounds of Luton Town, Bournemouth, Brentford, Brentford, Burnley, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Brighton, Sheffield United and Everton.

In the previous week there was a spike within the variety of individuals crossing the Channel, with 249 final Wednesday, 327 on Sunday and 401 on Monday. The pressing want for the Government to cease individuals making the perilous journey was highlighted by the tragic loss of life of a seven-year-old lady on Sunday.

And final Wednesday three individuals vanished in thick fog and heavy winds after their UK-bound small boat capsized. One was confirmed lifeless after his physique was recovered, whereas two others are additionally thought to have drowned at sea.

Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated: “This is the Prime Minister who promised the British people he would stop the boats, but has now seen more than 40,000 arrivals on his watch. This is the Prime Minister who said his strategy was working, yet is presiding over the busiest start to a year on record in terms of Channel crossings.

“Under Rishi Sunak, impartial reviews present our border safety has develop into a farce, billions are being spent on asylum lodges, and the Home Office has simply misplaced 1000’s of asylum-seekers. Everything this Prime Minister touches fails, and our nation deserves higher than his weak, incompetent management.”

It comes as Home Secretary James Cleverly – who set himself a target of meeting Mr Sunak’s stop the boats pledge by the end of this year – hosted a meeting in Brussels with French officials. They agreed to lead a new customs partnership in a bid to disrupt the supply chain of boats.

Downing Street insisted the Government’s efforts to curb Channel crossings were making a difference. No10 claimed the UK’s joint work with France is “already delivering”, with more than 26,000 crossing attempts prevented in 2023 at an interception rate of 47%.

Asked whether Mr Sunak was sorry for being unable to deliver on his pledge to stop the boats, his spokesman said: “The PM is targeted on making additional progress to decreasing small boat crossings.”