Record 60,000 migrants expected to cross the Channel this year under Labour

Britain faces a record of more than 60,000 migrants arriving by small boat this year under Labour, officials and experts have warned.

People smugglers are reportedly telling migrants it is now “open season” as a result of the new government scrapping the Rwanda plan and are trying for 400 each day.

Already more than 14,000 have come to the UK in 2024, with officials bracing for a huge influx in the coming months.

Smugglers have already started to increase the number of migrants being put on boats.

One French prosecutor source in Calais said to expect around 400 migrants to try and make the journey each day for the next few months.

Around 70 were seen packed on just one boat which made it to Britain this week. They were part of a disturbing 419 which made it on Tuesday, despite it being wet and windy. Another 126 were rescued and returned back to France.

It comes as French police brace themselves for policing the Olympics in Paris which start on Friday July 26. There are fears this will take resources away from policing the coast to stop gangs sending over boats.

The prosecution source said: “There are serious indications the smugglers are going to be sending over hundreds each day now for the next few months.

“This is deadly serious. It has a real risk of overthrowing the systems in place and it will become impossible to stop.

“It is being discussed to prepare for 60,000 this year. That is higher than ever before.

“We are fearing the worst. It’s a deadly mix of warm weather, the Rwanda deterrent being removed, growing confidence and fewer police securing the borders.

“It’s a recipe for disaster.”

According to the Home Office, 29,437 people reached the UK in 2023 after crossing the English Channel in small boats, compared with 45,774 in 2022.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “Labour’s intention to abandon the Rwanda scheme before any flights take off is baffling and a poke in the eye for taxpayers, whose hard-earned cash has gone into preparing the plan.

“The fears around 60,000 are very real.

“It is also a signal to the criminal gangs and would-be migrants that it’s ok to come illegally, with no documents, claiming to be from a country to which you know you won’t be sent even if your application is rejected.

“It will lead to a huge influx in dangerous criminals arriving in Britain and having no deterrent. It would be disgraceful.

“Sir Keir Starmer’s intention to ‘smash the gangs’ is pie in the sky. He won’t do anything of the sort and numbers will keep going up. The Tories have been appalling in dealing with the Channel crisis, Labour will be much worse.”

Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, which campaigns for the British taxpayer to have a greater voice in the immigration debate, said he was concerned at Labour’s plans.

He said: “The Labour Party’s plans to stop the small boat crossings are not worth the paper they are written on. Their plans to scrap Rwanda are akin to rolling out the red carpet, and make it very clear to those considering the journey that there is no risk of them being deported.

“If we want people to stop entering our country illegally, we need a strong deterrent. Unfortunately the incoming Labour government seem more concerned with appeasing international opinion and liberal sentiment than with ensuring the security of Britain.”