More than 1,000 migrants have crossed the channel since Keir Starmer took over (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

       More than 1,000 migrants have arrived illegally into the UK since Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.

       Border Force discovered 427 people crossing on seven boats on Monday, taking the total since the election to 1,185.

       Sir Keir scrapped the Rwanda scheme on day one of his premiership and instead said he would smash the people smuggling gangs running the boats.

       Reform MP Lee Anderson posted a picture of a boat with migrants making the crossing with a banner saying 1,000 plus have breached Britain’s borders since the new government took over.

       He wrote: “Now I understand. This is what he means by 'smashing the gangs'.”

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       Now I understand

       This is what he means by 'smashing the gangs' pic.twitter.com/MH1vPL6BQy

       — Lee Anderson MP (@LeeAndersonMP_) July 16, 2024

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       Just days into the job, Sir Keir suggested the small boat crisis will get worse over the next few months and refused to commit to ending the crossings.

       Asked how quickly he would reduce illegal migration, the PM replied: “I have always said the previous government’s Rwanda policy was a gimmick, it wouldn’t be a deterrent.

       “They argued, if I recall, that even the passing of the legislation would be a deterrent. It clearly hasn’t worked, wasn’t going to work – we’ve had record numbers coming over this year.

       ‘That unfortunately is what we’ve inherited – we can’t change that overnight.’

       Sir Keir was pressed on whether it will get worse before it gets better and admitted “it can’t be changed overnight”.

       When challenged if his ambition is to actually stop the boats, he remained silent.

       Asked again later if he intended to end the crossings, he replied: “Nobody but nobody should be making these crossings. The numbers are going up, not down.

       “That is why we want to smash the gangs to stop those crossings. What I’m not going to do is pick an arbitrary date, an arbitrary number because that hasn’t worked in the past.

       “But I do want to be clear that my intention is to break down the gangs that are running this vile trade putting people into boats on the coast of France.

       “Nobody but nobody should be making that crossing.”

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       A total of 14,659 people have now arrived in 290 boats so far this year.

       Overall in 2022, 45,728 people crossed the channel in 1,104 small boats, an average of 41 people per dinghy.

       This year, smugglers have increased the number of people they cram into one boat, with an average of 50 people per vessel.

       Four people died on Friday after their overloaded boat capsized just off the French coast. Another 56 passengers were rescued by authorities and taken back to France.

       A Home Office spokesperson said: “Everyone wants to see an end to the dangerous small boat crossings.

       "They are undermining our border security and putting lives at risk.

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       “We are taking action to smash the people smuggling gangs responsible for this trade, establishing a new Border Security Command to bring together our intelligence and enforcement agencies, equipped with new counter-terror-style powers and hundreds of personnel stationed in the UK and overseas.

       “Our staff continue with their dedicated mission to save lives in the Channel whilst working with our French and other international partners to ensure the criminals responsible face the full extent of the law.”

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