Burnham pledges to be 'relentless' in curbing small boat crossings

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged a "relentless" approach to curbing the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats, asserting that the government is making progress and fundamentally changing its strategy. Speaking in Dover, Burnham highlighted that enforcement officers targeting people-smuggling gangs have been doubled on both sides of the Channel.

"People want to see this issue addressed," Burnham stated, adding that the government must also "build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs." His comments follow renewed political debate on illegal migration, particularly after thousands of migrants arrived in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.

Burnham noted that 98% of those who reached Ceuta were returned to Morocco, which he described as having handled the immediate issue. He also indicated a desire for ongoing dialogue with the EU regarding the Schengen area and the UK's relationship with it.

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People want to see this issue addressed. We also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs.

The Home Office announced that the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers combating smuggling gangs facilitating small boat crossings has nearly doubled, rising from 376 at the start of 2025 to almost 800. Burnham confirmed a similar doubling of French officers involved in the effort.

When asked about changing the tone of the debate, Burnham expressed a desire to "deal with the issue rather than play politics with the issue." He acknowledged public concern over perceived lack of border control, stating, "The public don't like the idea that the border looks like it's not controlled. We need to bring back that control. But also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it."

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The public don't like the idea that the border looks like it's not controlled. We need to bring back that control. But also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.