Overview

• Home Office data confirms 20,110 migrants have crossed the English Channel since July, when Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.
• The milestone was reached in half the time it took during Rishi Sunak's tenure, attributed in part to seasonal weather conditions favoring crossings during Starmer's initial months in office.
• The UK asylum system's annual cost has risen to a record £5 billion, with over 35,000 asylum seekers housed in hotels as of September 2024.
• Labour leaders criticized Conservative administrations for failing to address the crisis, while announcing new agreements with Iraq to combat people-smuggling and enhance border security.
• 2024 has seen the deadliest year for Channel crossings, with at least 50 recorded migrant deaths and ongoing investigations into organized immigration crime.