Rishi Sunak says his plan to tackle the Channel crisis is ‘working’ as Monday’s arrivals fall 21 per cent from this time last year
- The Prime Minister urged the public to have confidence that ministers ‘are on it’
- READ MORE: French patrol vessel ‘escorts migrant boat’ as it enters UK waters
Rishi Sunak insisted his plan to tackle the Channel crisis ‘is working’, on the day the number of migrant arrivals topped 20,000.
The Prime Minister urged the public to have confidence that ministers ‘are on it’.
It came as several hundred migrants arrived by small boat from northern France, taking the running total since the start of the year past 20,000.
There had been 19,801 arrivals by Monday, when the total was 21 per cent down at the same point last year.
Yesterday’s total has yet to be confirmed but observers suggested up to 300 arrived.
Last year the 20,000 landmark was passed more than two weeks earlier, on August 13.
Several hundred migrants arrived by small boat from northern France, taking the running total since the start of the year past 20,000
Rishi Sunak (pictured during a meeting on Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince MBS) insisted that the number of small boat crossings was down ‘for the first time since the crisis emerged’
Speaking during a visit to Norfolk, Mr Sunak said: ‘This year, for the first time since the small boats crisis emerged, the numbers crossing are down.
‘It’s important for people to understand that. This year for the first time the numbers crossing are lower than the year before… The plan is working.’
He added: ‘I want people to have confidence that we are on it, and we’ll keep going.’
A member of a people-smuggling gang was jailed yesterday.
Jetmir Myrtaj, 35, from Leicester, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years at Nottingham Crown Court for his role in organising trips across the Channel, the National Crime Agency said.
Source: Read Full Article
