More than 150,000 migrants have come over on boats.
Britain has reached a concerning migration benchmark as the 150,000th illegal migrant has arrived on England’s shores via small boats over the past seven years.
According to Home Office statistics released Friday, 407 people made the crossing on Boxing Day using 10 boats, with additional reports on December 27 indicating even more arrivals.
This follows the illegal arrival of 451 individuals on Christmas Day, raising the total number of migrants since January 1, 2018, to a staggering 150,243—surpassing the population of York.
This situation has ignited a heated exchange between Labour and the Conservatives, both parties having overseen numerous illegal crossings into the UK.
A Home Office spokesperson criticized the Conservatives for leaving “an appalling legacy of broken border security” while highlighting Yvette Cooper’s commitment to combating trafficking gangs.
Labour need to do more to tackle the migrant problem
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of negligence, claiming the party allowed 858 illegal immigrants into the country over Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On social media, he added, “France is safe—none needed to cross to flee danger. Labour’s Christmas gift to the British public seems to be uncontrolled and unlimited illegal immigration.”
Meanwhile, amid the blame game between the two major parties grappling with this issue for seven years, Reform UK joined the fray. Reacting to Philp’s social media comments,
Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe retorted, “This doesn’t fly Chris when the Tories, your party, opened our borders in such an unprecedented fashion. Yes, Labour has let us down. But so did you… Again, and again.”
Since the General Election, more than 22,324 people have crossed the Channel to enter Britain, marking a 24 percent increase over the same timeframe in 2023, though a 32 percent decrease from the record year of 2022.
So far this year, provisional figures from the Home Office indicate that 35,898 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats.
The Home Office released a full statement, acknowledging, “The Tories left an appalling legacy of broken border security. We are addressing the issue with a new Border Security Command, hiring 100 new specialist investigators, and forging new agreements with Europe and beyond to dismantle the business models of the criminal organizations profiting from small boat crossings. We are also enhancing the removal of those with no right to be here and cracking down on illegal employment.”
Lincolnshire residents have been concerned with the lack of action over the migrant problem with hotels in Skegness, Grimsby, Boston, Lincoln, and Scunthorpe being used to house migrants.
Keir Starmer has been accused of not doing anything to combat the problem and businesses in Skegness have said using hotels to house migrants damaged tourism.
