Andy Burnham Vows To Eradicate Small Boat Crossings

Andy Burnham has vowed to “eradicate” small boats crossings in the English Channel – but refused to say it when it will be done.

The prime minister said the government “will keep going at this issue” until it is solved.

However, he stopped short of saying it will have stopped by the next election, which may not take place until 2029.

Burnham was speaking the day after a boat carrying 230 asylum seekers – the most ever on a single vessel – crossed the Channel from France.

He said the government would “change our tactics” to deal with the fact that more migrants could start arriving on larger boats.

“I know people will have been worried to see that image yesterday,” the PM told GB News.

“It shows that the gangs are changing their tactics but so will we – we will now change our tactics and we will be relentless in chasing them down.”

Burnham said the deal Keir Starmer struck with France when he was PM meant there was “more law enforcement on the other side of the Channel” this summer, which has led to a reduction in the number of boats making the journey.

“But that’s not good enough,” he said. “People will say to me, ‘we don’t want any crossings’. I understand that concern.

“There are further things that we are doing and we will keep going at this issue until we deliver that eradication that people are looking for.”

Asked whether he could promise “no more small boats crossings by the election”, Burnham replied: “It would be wrong, I think, for me to make a prediction now based on a timeline.”

The PM added: “I’d rather promise to people what I know I can do and what I know I can deliver, and that is a relentless focus on this issue to deal with the public concern.

“I heard it on doorstep, on doorstep after doorstep in Makerfield, and I said to the people there, and I say it to the country, ‘I hear what you say, I will be completely focused on the issue’.

“There are more measures that we’re bringing through but crossings are down, immigration is down – there is real progress to report.”

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