Yvette Cooper responds to the latest small boat arrival figures

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the latest figures for small boat arrivals, said:

"More people crossed the Channel in a single day yesterday than the Tories plan to send to Rwanda in a year - yet their Rwanda scheme will cost the taxpayer a staggering half a billion pounds. It shows Rishi Sunak’s entire approach is just about gimmicks and headlines instead of getting a proper grip.

“Over 500 people arrived in small boats yesterday alone, yet ministers have admitted they will only be sending a few hundred people to Rwanda. The Tories have let criminal gangs take hold along the Channel undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.

“The man Sunak appointed as Immigration Minister has said all the Conservative government wants to do is get a few ‘symbolic flights’ off to Rwanda just before the General Election. They are not interested in actually solving the chaos they have created in our asylum system and at our borders.

"We need to end the gimmicks and get a grip. Labour will clear the asylum backlog, end hotel use, and set up a new returns and enforcement unit so those with no right to be in the UK are swiftly returned. Labour has a plan to strengthen our border security, relentlessly pursue the smuggling gangs, and restore order to the border once more.”

Ends

Notes:

Key facts to note on the latest figures:

• The 514 arrivals on Wednesday 20 March represented the highest single-day total for 2024 so far, overtaking the 401 who arrived earlier this month on 4 March. After almost 12 weeks, 2024 is currently the worst start to a year on record for Channel crossings. 

• The total number of arrivals this year stands at 4,043 as of 20 March, compared to 3,683 over the same period in 2023 and 3,229 in 2022. Last year, the milestone of 4,000 arrivals was not reached until 5 April.

• The picture so far this year is even worse when we take into account the number of people who have been rescued by the French authorities on their side of the Channel after boats seeking to cross the Channel got into difficulty early in their journey.

• As of 20 March 2024, 1,062 people have been taken back to the French coast after attempting to cross the Channel, compared to 679 over the same period in 2023 and 725 in 2022. In 2023, the number of people rescued on the French side did not hit the 1,000 mark until 7 May and in 2022, that milestone was not reached until 13 April.

• Figures for rescues on the English side of the Channel can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats

• Figures for rescues on the French side of the Channel can be found here:

https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/

Labour’s five-point plan to reform the asylum system:

1. Crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs, through new Cross-Border Police Unit and deeper security cooperation with Europe

A Labour Government would crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs by introducing stronger powers for the UK’s National Crime Agency to restrict the movement of those suspected of being involved in people smuggling and setting up a new cross-border police unit with officers based in the UK and across Europe to tackle gangs upstream.

That would include officers being posted directly to Europol to collaborate on joint investigations and to identify and seize boats upstream. Labour will also seek to negotiate a new security agreement with Europe, including a replacement to SIS-II, to allow for the real-time sharing of intelligence on people smuggling suspects. To fund this, Labour would redirect spending from the unworkable Rwanda scheme, which the government has admitted is subject to a very high risk of fraud.

2. End hotel use, clear the Tory asylum backlog, and speed up returns to safe countries

Labour will save the taxpayer billions by ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers within 12 months and setting up a new returns unit for safe countries. Labour will recruit over 1,000 Home Office caseworkers to clear the record Tory asylum backlog, and a further 1,000 staff for a new returns unit so that those who do not have a right to stay here can be quickly removed, and we end the use of costly hotels at the taxpayers’ expense. Labour will fast track decisions on applications from safe countries, like India and Albania, which are unlikely to be granted; and establish a new returns unit to reverse the 44% collapse in asylum removals that the Tory Government has overseen since 2010.

3. Reform resettlement routes to stop people being exploited by gangs

Labour would redesign the existing resettlement schemes which are not currently working properly so that they include a clearer process for refugees with family connections in the UK to be considered for resettlement, preventing them being exploited by criminal gangs or making dangerous journeys.

4. New agreement with France and other countries on returns and family reunion

Labour would negotiate a new agreement which includes safe returns and safe family reunions for child refugees.

5. Tackle humanitarian crises at source helping refugees in their region

Labour would work in partnership internationally to address some of the humanitarian crises that are leading people to flee their homes including restoring the 0.7% aid commitment when the fiscal situation allows and strengthening support for the people of Afghanistan, currently the largest group trying to cross the Channel.