EU becoming 'intolerant' to migrant crossings says panellist

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In excess of 25,000 migrants have crossed over to the UK by boat so far in 2021 and the numbers show no signs of slowing down. Last weekend the Home Office reported that the total number of people this year to have crossed into the UK stood at more than 25,700.

The figure is staggering when compared with 2020, when 8,469 migrants were reported to have made it to the UK by boat across the year.

This means 2021’s total is already three times higher, with December still to come.

In fact, according to Home Office data, 2020’s total was surpassed this year by the middle of July.

Earlier this month a new record was set for the number of migrants to have arrived in one day when more than 1,000 reached UK shores.

Last Saturday, there were 28 separate crossings, which led to 886 people either being rescued or intercepted.

On the same day, French authorities made 14 interventions, preventing 446 people from successfully crossing into the UK.

Yesterday, 27 people drowned whilst attempting to reach the UK by boat. It’s officially the deadliest Channel crossing on record. 

However, whilst the number of migrants crossing the Channel by boat has increased the overall number of people trying to claim asylum in the UK has fallen.

For the year ending in June 2021 the number had decreased by four percent compared with the previous 12 months.

This is because fewer migrants are using other strategies – such as planes or lorries – to enter the UK undetected.

Analysts believe migrants no longer see these transport routes as viable due to increased security at ports and the ongoing Covid pandemic.

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The people who attempt to cross into the UK come from some of the poorest countries in the world, including Yemen, Sudan and Iraq.

Often they are looking to escape conflict, persecution and poverty to seek a better life for themselves and their families.

Under international law, people have the right to seek asylum in whichever country they arrive and there is no rule that stipulates you must seek this in the first safe country you come across.

Currently, the UK and France are coordinating resources to help prevent migrants from reaching the UK.

In July, the UK announced it would give France £54 million between 2021-22 to help combat the issue.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has said the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill was the “long-term solution” to tackling the issue.

The legislation is currently at the ‘report stage’ in the House of Commons.

If passed the bill proposes to alter the existing UK immigration system by introducing a two-tier framework for asylum seekers arriving in the UK, which differentiates based on the method of arrival.

It also seeks to change the process relating to asylum claims and appeals and also counter people smuggling and modern slavery.

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