UK politics: Pressure grows on Starmer as Channel migrant figures pass 50,000 since Labour’s win – as it happened

Home Office data shows 474 migrants arrived yesterday in eight small boats bringing the total to over 50,000

More than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats since Labour took office last July, newly released data from the Home Office shows.

Figures show 474 migrants arrived yesterday in eight small boats.

It means 50,271 arrivals have been recorded since the election on 4 July 2024.

There have been 27,029 arrivals so far this year, which is 47% higher than at this stage in 2024, when the figure stood at 18,342, and 67% higher than at this point in 2023 (16,170).