A senior Labour minister has publicly corrected his claim that most people arriving in Britain in small boats are “children, babies and women” after mounting criticism.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones made the erroneous comments on the latest edition of BBC Question Time on Thursday night.
He was challenged on the programme by Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf, who claimed that more than 90 per cent of those on the vessels were men.
But Home Office data indicates that adult men made up 73 per cent of small boat arrivals between January 2018 and March 2025.
Labour’s Darren Jones claims the majority of illegal migrants crossings at Dover are “children, babies and women".
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 13, 2025
This is simply not true. Another clueless Labour minister. pic.twitter.com/Sw00jE3iDO
Just 9 per cent were adult women and 16 per cent were under 18, in cases where age and sex were recorded.
In response to Mr Yusuf, Mr Jones said: “When you’re there on the site seeing these dinghies put together by these organised criminal gangs which are clearly not safe, and when you see that the majority of people in these boats are children, babies and women…”
His claim was quickly seized upon by Reform leader Nigel Farage, who reposted the clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “This is simply not true. Another clueless Labour minister.”
Mr Jones was met with sharp backlash, including from former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, who wrote to the minister demanding a retraction.
Last night on Question Time, Labour Minister @darrenpjones stated:
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) June 13, 2025
"The majority of the people in these boats are children, babies and women."
This is a lie.
I have written to the Minister, requesting an urgent public correction. pic.twitter.com/Rw9Vs0H9Gu
Despite growing criticism, Downing Street stood by Mr Jones on Friday.
A spokesman said the Government is “absolutely focused on tackling these vile smuggling gangs that risk lives in the Channel” and confirmed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has confidence in Mr Jones.
But just hours later, Mr Jones published a retraction, saying: "Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men, but not 'north of 90 per cent' as Reform claimed.
"On BBC Question Time I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and babies who had suffered horrific burns.
Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men - but not “north of 90%” as Reform claimed.
— Darren Jones MP (@darrenpjones) June 13, 2025
On @bbcquestiontime I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and…
"I'm happy to clarify this given how this is now being misrepresented.”
However, Conservative MPs say Mr Jones’ incorrect framing of the data undermines public trust in Labour’s ability to secure Britain’s borders.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “No wonder this is shaping up to be the worst year on record for small boat crossings. If this is what passes for reality inside the Labour Government, Britain is in serious trouble.”
More than 15,000 people have already risked their lives to cross the Channel on small boats in 2025, with predictions that the total could reach 50,000 by the end of the year.
