Migrants wave the middle finger as number of people crossing Channel this year passes 13,000

A group of forty migrants including young children set out on an inflatable boat bound for Britain from France today – as Channel crossings passed 13,000 this year.

Small children wearing red life jackets were spotted on the French coast near Gravelines before they made the attempt to cross the English Channel.

One migrant even flipped the finger at the photographer documenting the departures.

The inflatable boat was very full and it is unclear whether it made it to the other side of the water.

Children were being led by parents to undertake the dangerous voyage.

Small children wearing red life jackets were spotted on the French coast near Gravelines

Children were being led by parents to undertake the dangerous voyage

The inflatable boat was very full and it is unclear whether it made it to the other side of the water

The migrants have not been deterred by the fact that all the declared candidates in the Conservative leadership race have said they would keep Boris Johnson’s Rwanda deportation policy if they become Prime Minister.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was among the few cabinet ministers who did not sensationally quit her position earlier this week which triggered Johnson’s downfall and is rumoured to be considering a run to become Prime Minister herself.

On Wednesday, 166 migrants had to be rescued by the French authorities after their dinghies got into difficulties off the coast in a number of incidents between Calais, Boulogne and Le Touquet.

They were returned to French ports and handed over to border police.

The official total so far this year to have been detained by Border Force after making the treacherous crossing in small boats has now reached 13,103 in nearly 400 boats.

The migrants have not been deterred by the fact that all the declared candidates in the Conservative leadership race support the Rwanda deportation policy

People who seem to be those leading the departures were seen leading the migrants to get the boat into the water

Today’s figures have yet to be confirmed.

According to government figures 28,526 people made the journey in 2021 – compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020.

A Government spokesperson said at the time: ‘The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable.

‘Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes.

‘The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

‘Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.’