The number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel has topped 25,000 in record time.
Record numbers of people have made the journey in small boats so far this year as ministers have grappled with cracking down on people smuggling gangs.
Some 898 people made the journey in 13 boats on Wednesday, bringing the total for 2025 so far to 25,436, Home Office figures show. The figure is the third highest daily number of crossings this year.
This is up 51 per cent on this point last year (16,842) and 73 per cent higher than at this stage in 2023 (14,732), according to PA news agency analysis.
It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 25,000 mark has been passed since data on Channel crossings was first reported in 2018.
Last year the figure was passed on September 22, and in 2023 it was October 2.
The first year in which at least 25,000 arrivals were recorded was 2022, when the milestone was passed on August 27, and the total went on to hit a record 45,774 by the end of December.
The latest figures are a fresh setback for Sir Keir Starmer, who has vowed to tackle small boat crossings by “smashing the gangs” responsible for smuggling migrants across the Channel.
With Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surging in the polls, the prime minister has launched a returns deal with France that he hopes will bring the spiralling numbers under control. But despite promising a “one in, one out” deal for a handful of migrants with France, the crossings have continued on a course to set a fresh record this year.
The deal with France will see some of those who arrive in the UK illegally via the Channel sent straight back for the first time since Brexit, with Britain taking an equivalent number of migrants from France in return.
The Conservatives said Labour are “doing nothing to stop the crossings” and called the crisis “a national emergency”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Their 17 in one out deal with France will not even make a dent – it would take ten years for Yvette Cooper to deport the illegal immigrants that have arrived since the start of this year alone under her so-called deal which still hasn’t started.”
He said the Conservatives would detain those arriving in Britain “on the spot”, pledging to leave the ECHR if they are blocked by judges from doing so.
Reform UK also described the situation as a “national emergency” and called for the UK to leave the ECHR to deal with the crisis.
MP Lee Anderson said: “The numbers speak for themselves, Labour has let this country down on a massive scale.
“Our border crisis is worse than ever, fuelling record levels of crime and costing taxpayers tens of billions each year.
“No country can sustain waves of unvetted, fighting-age males draining public services and filling our luxury hotels.”
Sir Keir has also ramped up collaboration with other European leaders to try to crack down on the smuggling gangs, with Germany agreeing to close a loophole that will allow police to seize small boats being used in the Channel.
The latest surge in arrivals also comes as the government seeks to end the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, which have contributed to rising community tensions.
An extra 400 spaces are being prepared to house male asylum seekers at RAF Wethersfield in Essex.
It is understood more adult migrants will be moved into the former military site, which has a usual capacity of 800 beds, on a short-term basis.
A Home Office spokesman said: "All use of property or sites under our ownership is carried out in accordance with relevant planning permissions, and we work together with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the accommodation estate is continuously reviewed and managed safely and effectively at all times."
The move also follows a series of demonstrations outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Epping since July 13, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
On Wednesday, local political leaders urged the Home Secretary to make The Bell Hotel in Essex a "priority for urgent closure", citing community tensions that have put a strain on policing.
Essex Police said 14 people have been charged in connection with protests at the site and there have been 23 arrests.
