More than 10,000 small boat migrants reach UK under Burnham

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 14:36 · Archive

More than 10,000 small boat migrants have crossed the Channel since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July. The total stands at between 10,136 and 10,139, according to reports citing Home Office figures.

A significant surge occurred over four days after a pause of more than three weeks. Between Thursday and Sunday, 1,610 to 1,670 migrants arrived. The breakdown was: 263 on Thursday, 671 on Friday, 259 on Saturday, and 477 to 480 on Sunday, crossing in a total of seven boats on the final day.

The daily average of arrivals since Mr Burnham took office is approximately 96.5 to 97.5 per day. This is higher than the recorded averages under Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson and Theresa May, though only slightly lower than the average during Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, which recorded 77,183 arrivals at an average of 103.5 per day.

Mr Burnham has stated that crossings are down 39 to 40 per cent compared to the same point last year. Separately, the Daily Mail reports that Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, is preparing to unveil new immigration rules which have been 'massively watered down' following disagreement within the Labour Party over proposals to make low-skilled foreign migrants wait longer for settled status.

How it is being reported

• Small boat arrivals since Andy Burnham became PM top 10,000 with nearly 100 crossing the Channel every day on averageA total of 1,670 people made the perilous journey between Thursday and Sunday, according to the latest Home Office figures - ending a three-week pause.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 14:21
• Andy Burnham must follow Donald Trump's lead and slam Britain's door shut as 10,000 migrants arriveTen thousand. That is how many have come ashore in small boats since Andy Burnham walked into Downing Street on July 20. GB News puts the tally at 10,139, close to 98 a day. That daily pace is worse than Theresa May’s, Boris Johnson’s or Rishi Sunak’s. Across the Atlantic, a president who vowed to stop illegal crossings has cut border arrests to their lowest recorded level. Burnham points to a percentage. On the day he took office in January 2025, Trump told the country: "All illegal entry will immediately be halted." He put his presidency behind that sentence, and the border numbers…GB News · 2 Nov, 14:17
• Andy Burnham's small boats record hits 10,000 as crossings surge over weekendMore than 10,000 small boat migrants have crossed the Channel since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, GB News can exclusively reveal. Mr Burnham, who replaced Sir Keir Starmer in No10 on July 20, saw his tally surge by 1,610 in just four days after more than two weeks of no new arrivals. The People's Channel revealed 417 migrants arrived on British shores today, with 259 crossing on Saturday and 671 making the trip on Friday. Mr Burnham's total now stands at 10,076, averaging at 96.8 per day. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Burnham's daily score is worse than the recorded average under…GB News · 1 Nov, 17:13

In this story: Andy Burnham · Sir Keir Starmer · Shabana Mahmood · Chris Philp · Rishi Sunak · Boris Johnson · Theresa May · United Kingdom

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