LONDON: Britain’s government said Thursday that 752 migrants were detected arriving in small boats across the Channel the previous day, a daily record for this year. The figure, released by the interior ministry, broke a previous 2026 record set in June of 710 arrivals in a single day. The issue of tens of thousands of irregular migrants arriving in small boats each year has vexed successive British governments and fueled support for the hard-right Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage.

More than 700 migrants are thought to have attempted to cross the Channel on Wednesday - just 24 hours after Andy Burnham claimed the plan to stop small boats 'is working'.

Four migrants have died in two separate attempts to cross the Channel from France to Britain.