Five hundred migrants cross Channel in two days

These migrants arrived at Dover on 23 April

Five hundred migrants have crossed the English Channel over two days, according to figures from the Home Office.

It said 141 people arrived on Friday, and 359 on Saturday, in a total of 10 small boats.

It brings the number of arrivals on small boats to 7,167 so far this year.

The government says the continued number of people attempting the crossing shows why it needs to proceed with its plans to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda, where they are then processed.

The Rwanda Bill was passed by Parliament on 22 April, after being passed back and forth between the Commons and the Lords.

Those sent to the African country will have their applications processed there, and be allowed to stay there if they are approved.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the first flights will take off in July.

The latest arrivals take the total for 2024 so far to over 7,000 people

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The unacceptable number of people who continue to cross the Channel demonstrates exactly why we must get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible.

“We continue to work closely with French police who are facing increasing violence and disruption on their beaches as they work tirelessly to prevent these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary journeys.

“We remain committed to building on the successes that saw arrivals drop by more than a third last year, including tougher legislation and agreements with international partners, in order to save lives and stop the boats.”

Migrants arriving at Dover on 23 April

Labour's shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: "This is the blunt reality behind all of Rishi Sunak's empty boasts. More people have arrived by small boats so far this year than ever before and more people are having to be rescued.

"Our plan would strengthen Britain's border security, crush the smuggling gangs, clear the asylum backlog, end hotel use, and set up a new returns and enforcement unit so those with no right to be in the UK are swiftly returned.”