More than 2,000 small boat migrants have crossed the Channel since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister

More than 2,000 migrants have come to UK shores in small boat crossings since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister 13 days ago.

On Saturday alone, 326 migrants arrived in four boats, according to the latest figures, bringing the number to 2,057 since the former Manchester mayor took over from Sir Keir Starmer on July 20.

Last Wednesday marked the busiest day for small boat crossings across the English Channel so far this year, with 752 migrants arriving in the UK. 

This year’s provisional total of asylum seekers arriving by boat is now 14,526. 

Mr Burnham has said the Government’s plan to curb Channel crossings is working as numbers are down year on year, but he has admitted there is more to do. 

But in the same period in 2025 – from July 20 to August 2 – there were only 1,962 crossings made.

Though Mr Burnham backs his Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, saying on Friday her measures have ‘started to make a difference’.

The Prime Minister added: ‘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.

‘So, there is progress, but we both recognise that we need to do more.’

Migrants board a smuggler’s boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Gravelines, northern France, on July 29

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While Andy Burnham’s arrival has seen worse rates of crossing than last year’s, the overall total for the year is down substantially when compared to the number at the same point in 2025.

This time last year, there had been 25,436 migrants who had arrived by small boats. This year’s figure of 14,526 is 43 per cent lower than 2025’s figure at the same date.

It is also 14 per cent lower than 2024’s 16,903 arrivals during the same period.

The Home Office notes that small boat crossings fluctuate because of changes in the weather, with peaks in the warmer summer months.

The new Prime Minister has pledged to be ‘relentless’ in tackling the small boat crossings while speaking during a visit to Dover’s today.

Speaking on the overall reduction of crossings, he said: ‘Clearly, progress is being made, but we’re not complacent, and it’s why I am here.

‘It’s why I’ve come down on Sunday to see the team to listen to what they think needs to be done, what further can be done.

‘So we’re just going to be relentless.

‘People want to see this issue addressed. I heard that on the doorsteps in Makerfield, but we also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs.

‘So on every level we’ve got to cover this … crucially increasing the enforcement activity.’

However, Burnham’s recent spike in migrant crossing numbers comes as Spain experienced the biggest illegal mass migration event in EU history when more than 60,000 people flooded into the Spanish territory of Ceuta.

Around 100 people are believed to have died in the chaos – including several children and two women – and some migrants report having to swim for more than 10 hours to reach the shore of the North African Spanish enclave.

Masses of youths were lured into coming after viral social media videos were shared of other youngsters cheering in the streets of Ceuta following their completion of the deadly journey.

Spanish authorities have today laid a floating barrier in the sea to prevent further breaches into their territory, but Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has caught serious flak domestically and from abroad for his handling of the situation.

Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, halting freedom of movement between the two countries, and 22 EU leaders have issued a letter denouncing Spanish immigration policy.

Meanwhile at home, locals jeered at Mr Sanchez when he visited and called him a ‘Son of a b****’.

Since the start of 2025, the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers tackling organised immigration crime in Britain has more than doubled from 376 to almost 800.

While Mr Burnham was visiting Dover’s joint command room – where officers from the NCA, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Border Security Command work to track movements across the Channel using surveillance drones – Ms Mahmood went to the NCA headquarters in Stratford.

She said: ‘There is more to be done, but this Government is restoring control at our border.’

Since Labour took power in 2024, more than 1,000 small boats or engines have been seized after they pledged to crack down on the supply of equipment to smuggling gangs who take migrants across the strait.

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 per cent.

‘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 per cent, and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.’