Prime Minister Rishi Sunak provided an update on Monday, stating that his efforts to "stop the boats" and prevent illegal crossings in the English Channel are beginning

to yield results, although there is still a long way to go before the government achieves its goal of eradicating the issue.

Speaking in Dover, the main entry point for illegal migrants into the UK, Sunak highlighted the progress made on one of his New Year pledges. He mentioned that illegal crossings have decreased by 20% compared to the same period last year, citing this as evidence of the government's effective action.

"Our plan is starting to work," Sunak affirmed. "Some believed this problem was unsolvable, or simply a part of 21st-century life. They lost faith in politicians' ability to take the necessary steps to address it."

He continued, "While we still have a long way to go, in the five months since I launched the plan, crossings have decreased by 20% compared to last year."

Additionally, the Prime Minister revealed plans for two new sites in Weatherfield and Scampton to accommodate migrants. Furthermore, the government has secured two new vessels to house asylum-seekers, although their specific locations have yet to be confirmed.

It remains to be seen how successful the government's ongoing efforts will be in fully addressing the issue of illegal Channel crossings. Photo by Mstyslav Chernov/Unframe, Wikimedia commons.