Prime Minister Andy Burnham has attributed the ongoing surge in illegal crossings of the English Channel to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, citing a diminished level of cooperation with neighbouring countries. Burnham, who assumed office under the Labour Party, stated that the loss of collaborative frameworks post-Brexit has complicated efforts to prevent small boats from reaching British shores.

The comments were made amid a challenging week for the Home Office, which saw over 700 migrants cross the Channel in a single day, including two boats that successfully landed undetected within a span of two days. Tragically, two men died attempting the crossing within 48 hours, highlighting the perilous nature of the journey. Since Labour took power, more than 83,000 migrants have reportedly made the crossing, a figure comparable to the size of the British Army.

Burnham acknowledged ongoing efforts to reduce crossings but emphasized the setback caused by Brexit-related changes in international cooperation. “We had a more cooperative system in the past,” he said, while underscoring his commitment to continuing work aimed at drastically lowering the number of crossings.

The prime minister’s remarks drew sharp criticism from opposition figures. Reform Party leader Nigel Farage accused Burnham of lacking understanding of the policy details, asserting that pre-Brexit agreements involved Britain accepting more migrants than it returned. Farage argued that many voters supported Brexit to regain control over borders and condemned successive governments for failing to deliver on this promise.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described Burnham’s explanation as “gaslighting,” accusing him of deflecting blame amid a surge of more than 1,000 illegal arrivals in one week alone. Philp asserted that the only effective solution to stop crossings is to deport all illegal immigrants immediately upon arrival. He further argued that this policy would require the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), an action he claims Burnham will not support.

Data indicate that the total number of Channel crossings has declined by 42 percent compared to the same period last year, and 26 percent lower than earlier in 2024. Nonetheless, the recent successful landings of untracked boats underline ongoing challenges in border management.

The debate over the causes and solutions to the Channel crossings crisis has intensified as Burnham prepares for his party’s upcoming conference in Liverpool. The issue remains a focal point of political contention, with both government and opposition parties emphasizing different approaches to addressing the flow of migrants arriving via small vessels.