Migrants cross English Channel as Rwanda bill returns to Commons

Migrants crossing the Channel have been reported for the first time this year, just days before the Government’s Rwanda bill returns to Parliament.

People believed to be migrants were seen being brought to the shore in Dover, Kent on Saturday morning, marking the end of a record 27 day period with no crossings.

The last recorded arrivals came on 16 December, with no arrivals over Christmas for the first time since records began five years ago.

The crossing comes ahead of the Government’s Rwanda bill returning to Parliament on Tuesday, with amendments to be debated by MPs.

The bill aims to designate Rwanda as a safe country for refugees, following the UK Supreme Court ruling that it was not.

The Government hopes that passing the bill will allow it to send asylum seekers who arrive in the UK by small boat to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

If accepted, they would be granted asylum in Rwanda and would not be returned to the UK.

Around 40 rebel right-wing MPs have backed changes to the bill aimed at strengthening it against legal challenges, but the centrist faction within the Tory party is also gearing up to ensure the legislation does not go too far.

Members of the House of Lords have warned that the bill would then likely face a “mauling” by peers, who are likely to try and water down measures.

More than 29,000 people arrived in the UK in 2023 via small boat, a reduction of close to a third from 2022’s record figures.

The figure, which is provisional, is still the second highest annual total on record, above the figure for 2021 (28,526).

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crackdown on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels.

“This relentless action reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year, which saw similar weather conditions to 2022, and more than 26,000 attempts were prevented.

“These figures are a testament to the tough measures we have introduced, the hard work of our dedicated Border Force officers and our work with French counterparts.”