The number of migrants arriving in the UK on small boats has reached a record high in the first half of 2025, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deliver on promises to

curb illegal Channel crossings.

According to data released by the Home Office, 879 people arrived on Monday alone, pushing the total number of arrivals this year to 19,982 — a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The surge presents a major challenge for Starmer, who has vowed to dismantle the criminal networks behind human smuggling operations. The crossings, often made in overcrowded inflatable boats, remain a politically charged issue, with public concern rising over border control and immigration levels.

Government officials attribute the rise in crossings to favorable weather conditions and tactics by smugglers to cram more people into each boat. Since Labour took office in July 2024, over 24,000 individuals without legal right to remain in the UK have reportedly been deported. Despite these efforts, the dangers of the journey persist — 73 people died attempting to cross the Channel last year.

The Labour government has also pledged to end the widespread and costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers, another policy area under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, criticism of Labour’s handling of the crisis has helped fuel support for Reform UK, the right-wing, anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage, which has recently topped national opinion polls.

“This record will only grow if we continue rewarding those who arrive,” Farage wrote on X, referencing the latest figures.

In May, Starmer proposed broader immigration reforms, warning that unchecked migration could turn Britain into “an island of strangers” — a comment that drew backlash and for which he later apologized.

Earlier this year, the government reaffirmed restrictions on asylum seekers using modern slavery or human rights claims to stay in the UK — a move condemned by human rights advocates. Photo by Steve Cadman, Wikimedia commons.