Andy Burnham has been plunged into a fresh migration crisis after more than 2,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats since he entered Downing Street.
New figures show 326 migrants arrived in four boats on Saturday alone, pushing the total number of arrivals since Mr Burnham replaced Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister on July 20 to 2,057.
The surge comes despite Government claims that its crackdown on illegal crossings is beginning to deliver results.
The figure is slightly higher than the 1,962 crossings recorded during the same period last year, piling pressure on the new Prime Minister as he attempts to convince voters that Labour can secure Britain’s borders.
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Mr Burnham insisted the overall picture showed progress, pointing to lower annual numbers and increased removals of failed asylum seekers.
Speaking on Friday, he said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s measures had “started to make a difference”.
“Although this is the peak period of the year for crossings, overall the number of crossings is down, the number of removals of people is up,” he said.
“So, there is progress, but we both recognise that we need to do more.”
But the scale of the challenge was laid bare this week when 752 migrants arrived in a single day — the busiest day for Channel crossings so far this year.
The provisional total for 2026 stands at 14,526 arrivals, down 43 per cent compared with the same point last year, when 25,436 people had made the journey.
It is also 14 per cent lower than the figure recorded in 2024.
However, officials warn that crossings traditionally accelerate during warmer months as calmer seas create opportunities for people smugglers.
The political pressure comes against the backdrop of Britain’s long-running migration battle, following record net migration of 944,000 in the year to March 2023.
Although numbers have fallen since that peak, immigration remains one of the most explosive issues facing the Government.
For Mr Burnham, the message from voters is clear: falling figures may offer relief, but every small boat arriving on Britain’s shores risks reopening the political storm.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings, with removals of small boat migrants at record levels and asylum claims down by 12%.
“The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new payment by results deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars.
“This builds on joint work that has stopped over 46,000 attempted crossings since the election.
“We have removed or deported almost 70,000 people who were here illegally, an increase of 41%, and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.”
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