Nigel Farage erupts as number of migrants arriving in UK on small boats hits 150,000 _ Hieuuk
Reform UK leader issues stark warning as figures show thousands have crossed the Channel in the last seven years
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned of a ‘genuine threat to national security’ (Image: Getty)
More than 150,000 migrants have now crossed the English Channel in small boats.
Home Office figures show that 407 people made the dangerous journey from France on Boxing Day.
It means 150,243 arrivals have been recorded since the start of 2018.
On Christmas Day more than 450 people crossed the Channel in 11 boats.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Express: “This number is not only a disgrace but poses a genuine threat to national security.”
Migrants attempt to cross the English Channel on Christmas Day (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
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Tory MP Neil O’Brien hit out at Sir Keir Starmer for ditching the Rwanda deportation plan.
More than 22,324 people have arrived in the UK on rubber dingies since he entered No 10 in July.
Mr O’Brien said: “Keir Starmer promised that he would smash the gangs but the reality is that the gangs are smashing him.
“The Prime Minister’s decision to scrap the Rwanda deterrent as his first action has proved to be a disaster, and now crossings are up a fifth on the same period last year.
“The people crossing illegally know that as long as they can make it to the UK, they will be allowed to stay, because they will be allowed to rely on endless appeals and spurious human rights claims.
“Until that changes more and more people will continue to come this is completely unfair to those who are doing the right thing and playing by the rules.
“Labour are now opening more expensive hotel places having promised to shut them. Their approach has been a total disaster.”
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There were 299 crossings in 2018, which climbed to 1,843 in 2019 and 8,466 in 2020, according to the Home Office.
Some 28,526 migrants made the journey in 2021 before a record 45,774 arrived in 2022 and 29,437 last year.
The Prime Minister has pledged to “smash the gangs” who facilitate the small boat crossings.
As part of this work, he has set up a new Border Security Command, and is attempting to work more closely with the UK’s European neighbours to pull apart organised crime gangs involved in people smuggling.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
