Home Office ministers told John Hayes:
“In 2024, we assess that 2 small boats successfully reached the UK after departing from Belgium, making up 0.3% of the total number of small boat crossings that year.
In 2026, we assess that there have been 27 small boats that have successfully reached the UK after departing from Belgium, which is 9% of the total number of small boat crossings this year.
We understand that there were zero crossings departing from Belgium that reached the UK in 2025, 2023 and 2022.
While this shows a relatively low number of crossings, we are closely monitoring the situation. We will continue to work with our international partners to disrupt and prevent these dangerous journeys.
We are working closely with Belgium to prevent small boat launches, including through real-time information sharing, strengthened coastal enforcement and joint action to disrupt the organised criminal gangs and supply chains facilitating crossings. We are deepening that cooperation through a new UK-Belgium law enforcement agreement, which will enable faster police-to-police intelligence sharing and strengthen joint investigations and operational activity.”
The people smugglers will move faster than Labour’s ‘deals’ with European countries. That pesky ECHR…
Robert Jenrick told a rally on Monday:
“They say Chancellors are either undertakers or bookies. This one is an ostrich – and when the Chancellor buries his head in the sand, the rest of us, we’re left staring at his you know what.”