Since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office in July 2024, the UK has seen over 50,000 migrants cross the English Channel in small boats, with the milestone reached on August 11, 2025.

Official data reveals that at least 50,271 migrants have made the perilous crossing since Starmer's administration began, primarily from France.

In 2025 alone, there have been 27,029 migrant arrivals, marking a 47% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a staggering 67% increase compared to 2023.

In the six days leading up to the milestone, British maritime services intercepted 1,119 irregular migrants aboard 19 small boats.

Favorable weather conditions since January 2025 have contributed to a surge in crossings, resulting in the highest recorded number of arrivals since statistics began.

Starmer has shifted the narrative from the previous government's slogan 'Stop the Boats' to a focus on 'Smash the gangs' involved in human trafficking.

Baroness Jacqui Smith, the education minister, acknowledged the number of crossings as 'unacceptable' and admitted that Labour has struggled to control the situation.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, criticized Labour's handling of the migration crisis, suggesting that Conservative plans may eventually reduce migrant crossings.

The UK government has initiated a 'one in, one out' returns deal with France to manage migration and has expanded its 'deport now, appeal later' scheme.

Charities are urging the government to create more safe and legal routes to the UK to prevent dangerous crossings motivated by desperation.

Baroness Smith indicated that the previous government failed to tackle the underlying issues surrounding migrant crossings, necessitating urgent measures from the current administration.

As pressure mounts on Starmer to address the rising number of small boat arrivals, his administration faces scrutiny over the effectiveness of its current strategies.