10,000 Small Boat Migrants Arrived Since Shabana Mahmood Became Home Secretary
More than 10,000 small boat migrants have reached Britain during Shabana Mahmood's first 66 days as Home Secretary, marking the second-fastest rate since the Channel crossing crisis began in 2018.
Recent Crossing Statistics
- 621 arrivals on Thursday
- 648 arrivals on Friday
- 503 arrivals on Saturday
- 349 arrivals on Sunday
This totals 2,000 crossings in just four days, contributing to the milestone of 10,072 migrants arriving since Ms Mahmood took office.
Comparison with Predecessors
- Ms Mahmood reached 10,000 migrants in 66 days
- Yvette Cooper took 74 days
- James Cleverly required 171 days
- Priti Patel took 583 days
- Only Suella Braverman reached the milestone faster, in 43 days (2022)
Ms Cooper was moved to the Foreign Office by PM Sir Keir Starmer after struggles to manage the Channel crisis. The 2022 record under Suella Braverman coincided with a surge in Albanian arrivals.
Government Reaction
"The timing of the mark being hit was 'unfortunate' as Ms Mahmood is said to be creating 10,000 asylum accommodation places in old army barracks and other sites."
This effort aims to address housing for asylum seekers amid rising arrival numbers.
Author's Summary
Shabana Mahmood's tenure as Home Secretary has seen a rapid increase in Channel crossings, highlighting ongoing challenges in managing the migrant influx and housing needs.