The number of Channel small boat migrants reaching Britain last month was more than double last April’s total, as the running tally for this year passed 11,000.

Home Office figures published today showed there were 4,432 arrivals in April compared with 2,132 the same month last year, a 108 per cent increase.

The total number to have reached British soil by small boat since start of this year now stands at 11,074.

It is the earliest stage in any calendar year since the start of the Channel crisis in 2018 that the 11,000 milestone has been reached.

In 2022 – which went on to see the record annual total so far – the 11,000 point was hit on June 16.

The following year it was June 24 and last year saw the landmark passed on June 6.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of ‘surrendering control of our borders’.

One of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s first actions after entering power was scrapping the Conservatives’ Rwanda asylum scheme, which was designed to deter migrants crossing from northern France in the first place.

A Border Force catamaran brings small boat migrants into Dover earlier today after the latest small boat incident in the Channel

A Border Force catamaran brings small boat migrants into Dover earlier today after the latest small boat incident in the Channel

Instead, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she will bolster law enforcement measures to ‘smash the gangs’ which traffick migrants to Britain for huge fees.

Your browser does not support iframes.

However, Tory frontbencher Mr Philp said: ‘Keir Starmer has totally lost control of our borders.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused PM Sir Keir Starmer of 'surrendering control of our borders'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused PM Sir Keir Starmer of ‘surrendering control of our borders’

‘His claim to be “smashing the gangs” is just a sick joke.

‘He has no plan to get this under control, and anyone who can get into a dinghy – mostly young men, some of whom are criminals or extremists – is allowed into the country.’

Migrants disembark from a Border Force catamaran at the Port of Dover today

Migrants disembark from a Border Force catamaran at the Port of Dover today

He added: ‘Keir Starmer has surrendered control of our borders.

‘The only way this madness will end is if those arriving are immediately removed to a location outside Europe, such as Rwanda.

Your browser does not support iframes.

‘But Keir Starmer, a human rights lawyer at heart, is too wek to do that.’ 

There were scores of further arrivals at Dover today as Border Force vessels intercepted at least one dinghy mid-Channel.

The vessel brought in a group of what appeared to be mainly men into the port in Kent in the morning.

Migrants intercepted mid-Channel are seen in orange lifejackets as they disembark at Dover

Migrants intercepted mid-Channel are seen in orange lifejackets as they disembark at Dover

People smugglers are continuing to take advantage of good weather to push migrant boats across the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

The Home Office confirmed 294 migrants reached the UK yesterday, after 1,142 arrived over the previous three days.

The Border Force vessel intercepted at least one dinghy in the middle of the Channel earlier today and took scores of migrants to Dover

The Border Force vessel intercepted at least one dinghy in the middle of the Channel earlier today and took scores of migrants to Dover

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.

‘The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.

One of PM Sir Keir Starmer's first acts in office was scrapping the Tories' Rwanda asylum deal

One of PM Sir Keir Starmer’s first acts in office was scrapping the Tories’ Rwanda asylum deal

‘That is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.

‘Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in Northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security and Asylum Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders.’

In further evidence of this year’s rocketing number of arrivals, April 2022 saw just 2,143 arrivals compared with this April’s 4,432. The figure was 2,153 in April 2023.

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk