UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham sees rise in Channel crossings

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has overseen an increase in illegal Channel crossings during his first 22 days in office, according to recent data. With 3,003 arrivals recorded, Burnham's daily average stands at 130, surpassing the early tenure averages of his predecessors.

Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer averaged 103 arrivals per day during his first three weeks, while Rishi Sunak averaged 82 and Boris Johnson averaged 58.

The surge is being attributed to the emergence of “mega-dinghies,” larger vessels capable of carrying hundreds of people at once. One such vessel reportedly carried a record 230 migrants on August 10. An ex-Home Office source described the trend as a “big boat invasion,” noting that the average number of illegal migrants per boat has increased tenfold since 2018.