The number of migrants crossing the border into the UK has reached an annual high, putting further pressure on the country’s Labour government.
According to the UK Home Office, on May 31, around 1,200 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats from France, the highest daily figure in 2025. The ministry said 1,194 people arrived on 18 boats in favourable weather, bringing the total number of crossings this year to 14,811.
This is 42% more than in 2024. The sharp rise in arrivals has increased political pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which came to power almost a year ago after widespread disappointment with how the previous Conservative administration had handled illegal immigration.
The former government promised to restrict crossings of the English Channel but ultimately failed to tackle the problem. Instead, Labour has taken a different approach, abandoning the Conservatives’ controversial plan to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda and focusing instead on dismantling the people-smuggling networks that fuel illegal migration. The government has strengthened international intelligence sharing and stricter immigration policies as key tools.
Despite increased joint operations between France and the UK, the English Channel remains the main route for people fleeing conflict or poverty. Migrants often choose the UK because of their knowledge of English, family ties or belief in more accessible opportunities for asylum and employment.
According to the Home Office, 36,816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2024, 25% more than in 2023. The highest annual figure remains 2022, when 45,774 people made the journey.
