Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has claimed that small boat crossings would be "thousands higher" if the Conservatives were still in power, despite current figures showing a 20% increase compared to this time last year. Speaking to the BBC, Cooper said the government was making progress on reducing the asylum backlog, accusing the previous administration of having "crashed the asylum system."
Cooper declined to specify when the number of crossings might decrease, but noted that the total so far this year—34,880—is lower than the peak year of 2022. She warned that without intervention, the UK would have faced its worst year for crossings. The Home Secretary also hinted at exploring third-country processing for migrants arriving illegally from safe countries, following a summit with her Italian counterpart.
On Sunday, Cooper announced a new joint unit between the Foreign Office and Home Office to monitor migration and returns agreements, with a focus on UK embassies prioritising the reduction of small boat crossings and increasing returns from source and transit countries. The government has also signed a cooperation agreement with Italy on tackling illicit finance from smuggling gangs.
Border Security Minister Angela Eagle told Sky News she could not provide a timeline for reducing crossings, stating, "This is a tough job. It will take time." She emphasised the need for operational cooperation and cross-border policing to address the issue.
