More than 500 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats during the first week of Andy Burnham’s tenure as Prime Minister, raising pressure on him to address the ongoing immigration issue. Home Office data revealed that six vessels made the crossing, including one dinghy reportedly carrying 165 people, the largest recorded single-boat crossing to date.

The incidents occurred as the Prime Minister was in Manchester unveiling his "No10 North" initiative, with critics accusing him of remaining silent on immigration despite it being a key voter concern. The total number of arrivals this week was expected to exceed 600, with additional crossings spotted during the most recent day.

Opposition leaders and political figures called for stronger action. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, criticized Burnham for avoiding the issue and accused him of supporting "open borders," asserting only his party could effectively halt the crossings. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp pointed to a record number of Channel crossings under the previous Labour government led by Keir Starmer and condemned the early signs of a similar trend under Burnham. Philp emphasized the Conservative plan to curb crossings through withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights and expedited deportations.

Within Labour ranks, there were calls for a tougher approach. Lord Glasman, founder of the Blue Labour group, urged Burnham to adopt a more assertive stance, including deploying the Royal Navy in the Channel and pressing the French government for stricter intervention.

The recent surge follows a period of lower crossings attributed to adverse weather conditions, with no boats recorded since July 10 until Wednesday’s tally of 172 migrants aboard three vessels. Thursday saw an even larger number of 366 migrants cross in three boats, with one holding 165 people—breaking the previous record of 128.

Since official record-keeping began in 2018, over 200,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats. More than 77,000 arrivals have been recorded since Labour returned to government in July 2024. Although the number of crossings so far this year exceeds 13,000, representing a 40 percent decrease from last year, experts caution that numbers may rise again.

Data also shows that only a small proportion of migrants arriving via small boats, around 7 percent, were removed through deportation last year. However, a Home Office spokesperson highlighted that removals are currently at record levels and asylum applications have dropped by 12 percent. The government continues to face significant challenges in managing Channel migration amid increasing public scrutiny.