Keir Starmer's pledge to 'smash the gangs' was in tatters on Thursday night after a new record was set for Channel crossings.
More than 25,000 migrants have now arrived in the UK in small boats this year, the earliest the milestone has been hit.
Nearly 900 migrants arrived in Dover from northern France on Wednesday, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 25,436, Home Office figures show.
The record figure, represents a rise of more than 50 per cent on 2024, prompted demands for Labour to declare a 'national emergency'.
One of the Prime Minister's first acts after winning power was to scrap the Conservatives' Rwanda scheme, which was designed to deter migrants from risking the dangerous journey.
