Since Labour took office, there’s been a sharp drop in the number of dinghies destroyed that were used to smuggle migrants across the Channel. A 35% fall compared to the Tory years…
Between 2022 and 2023, Border Force scrapped an average of 1,314 boats a year. Between 2024 and 2025 that figure plunged to 547.5. The Home Office revealed the breakdown:
2025 to date = 416
2024 = 679
2023 = 1,173
2022 = 1,456
Labour might try to claim this is down to the rise of so-called “super dinghies”. Though the average number of migrants per small boat was 45 between 2022 and 2023, rising to 57 between 2024 and 2025 – just a 26% increase. Smashing the boats going about as well as smashing the gangs then…
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…