Rishi Sunak has vowed halve legal migration, then cut numbers “every single year” if re-elected (Image: Getty)
In a striking critique of the Conservative government's immigration policies, the Labour Party has revealed that more people have arrived in the UK by small boats per week in 2024 than could be sent to Rwanda in an entire year.
According to new statistics, the scale of the small boats crisis far outstrips the capacity of the government's controversial Rwanda scheme.
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Link Sponsored Link
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Orthowalkway
They're Like Walking On Clouds - Now 70% Off!Orthowalkway
Undo
Since January 1st, over 12,900 individuals have crossed the English Channel in small boats, averaging more than 500 per week. The Labour Party's analysis suggests that it would take over 40 years to relocate all these new arrivals to Rwanda, highlighting what they describe as the impracticality of the Conservative strategy.
Home Office modeling, seen by The Times, indicates that only 300 asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda per year. This number pales in comparison to the influx of 880 asylum seekers who arrived on a single day, June 18th, 2024, which would alone take nearly three years to process under the current scheme.
This comes as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clashed during last night's BBC election debate - with Sunak directly challenging Starmer on his plans for handling immigrants who enter the UK illegally.
Sponsored
couponcodefinder
couponcodefinderFlight Attendant Shows How To Fly Business Class For The Price of Economy
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Starmer countered by saying it would take "literally 300 years" to deport all those who entered the country unlawfully to Rwanda. Sunak interrupted again, demanding: "But what will you do with them?"
Don't miss... Sunak angrily lays into Starmer on migration - ‘you're taking people for fools'
Rishi Sunak quizzed on Rwanda manifesto commitments
More Videos
0 seconds of 1 minute, 40 seconds Volume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts EnabledDisabled
Shortcuts Open/Close / or ?
Play/Pause SPACE
Increase Volume ↑
Decrease Volume ↓
Seek Forward →
Seek Backward ←
Captions On/Off c
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreen f
Mute/Unmute m
Decrease Caption Size -
Increase Caption Size + or =
Seek % 0-9
Next Up
Beth Rigby grills Keir Starmer over tax rises
00:53
twitter facebook Email Link https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/03vLT5ZZ Copied
Live
00:00
01:40
01:40
More Videos
Close
Labour's critique comes amid record numbers of individuals crossing the Channel, with more than 6,200 arriving since the Government passed its Rwanda Act, and over 42,000 since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's pledge to "stop the boats" on January 4th, 2023.
The ongoing crisis has reportedly netted criminal smuggler gangs nearly ￡80 million since the start of this year alone.
Adding to the Labour Party's argument, the financial disparity between the resources allocated to the Rwanda scheme and the efforts to combat smuggling gangs is stark.
While the Conservatives have pledged more than half a billion pounds to the Rwanda plan, only ￡25 million has been directed to the National Crime Agency to target the smuggling operations. Furthermore, the Small Boats Operational Command remains solely responsible for managing the channel crossings, a task increasingly proving to be beyond its capacity.
Don't miss...
Labour admit plot to scrap Rwanda sheme and give 115k migrants 'amnesty'
Tories slam Labour as not a single MP turns up for migrant debate
Labour’s plan to scrap Rwanda deal is the real gimmick
Trending
In a pointed statement, Labour representatives argue that the Conservative government's approach is both ineffective and a misallocation of resources, calling for a comprehensive review and reallocation to more directly address the root causes and operational challenges of the crisis.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rishi Sunak in fiery clash with BBC's Laura Kuenssberg over Brexit
1473 Comments
Angela Rayner's new social housing plans would be terrible for Britain
124 Comments
Wealth expert warns 'critical' policy missing from Conservative and Labour manifestos
3 Comments
David Cameron calls Starmer 'hopelessly naive' and that he will 'weaken Britain's defence'
186 Comments
Warning as Starmer risks Liz Truss-style meltdown with tax hike spree if Labour wins
415 Comments
Michael Gove issues countryside warning over Keir Starmer's 'bulldozing' UK plans
67 Comments
Conservatives warn of 'national ULEZ' road pricing nightmare if Labour wins
57 Comments
Keir Starmer to mount 'triple attack' on pensioners, warn Tories
302 Comments
Labour will 'pick the pockets' of pensioners, Rishi Sunak warns
55 Comments
Bombshell report reveals Labour policies will cost businesses and consumers billions
195 Comments
Deputy PM Oliver Dowden breaks silence on Tory leadership rumours
49 Comments
James Cleverly warns Labour are relying on 'hope' to end Channel migrant crisis
25 Comments
Nigel Farage plans massive rally in Midlands to kick off final week of election campaign
169 Comments
Don't usher in a Labour government if you believe in conservative values
25 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'rain dance' migrant plans exposed and will land Brits with '￡635 bill'
139 Comments
Labour victory 'will open door to migrants' warns James Cleverly
61 Comments
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer go head to head for Express as rivals answer your questions
10 Comments
Voters considering Reform UK know easy promises might not be delivered, says Lord Ashcroft
108 Comments
Wolf & Shepherd
Gronk's Top Shoe Picks: His Favorite Will Surprise YouWolf & Shepherd Learn More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Keir Starmer's 'sweetheart deal' with the EU will make UK 'illegal migration capital'
69 Comments
Is Keir Starmer really the ‘change' Britain needs right now?
26 Comments
Rishi Sunak in fiery clash with BBC's Laura Kuenssberg over Brexit
1473 Comments
Angela Rayner's new social housing plans would be terrible for Britain
124 Comments
Wealth expert warns 'critical' policy missing from Conservative and Labour manifestos
3 Comments
David Cameron calls Starmer 'hopelessly naive' and that he will 'weaken Britain's defence'
186 Comments
Warning as Starmer risks Liz Truss-style meltdown with tax hike spree if Labour wins
415 Comments
Michael Gove issues countryside warning over Keir Starmer's 'bulldozing' UK plans
67 Comments
Conservatives warn of 'national ULEZ' road pricing nightmare if Labour wins
57 Comments
Keir Starmer to mount 'triple attack' on pensioners, warn Tories
302 Comments
Labour will 'pick the pockets' of pensioners, Rishi Sunak warns
55 Comments
Bombshell report reveals Labour policies will cost businesses and consumers billions
195 Comments
Deputy PM Oliver Dowden breaks silence on Tory leadership rumours
49 Comments
James Cleverly warns Labour are relying on 'hope' to end Channel migrant crisis
25 Comments
Dr. Marty
If Your Indoor Cat Vomits, Do This ImmediatelyDr. Marty Watch More
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
Nigel Farage plans massive rally in Midlands to kick off final week of election campaign
169 Comments
Don't usher in a Labour government if you believe in conservative values
25 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'rain dance' migrant plans exposed and will land Brits with '￡635 bill'
139 Comments
Labour victory 'will open door to migrants' warns James Cleverly
61 Comments
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer go head to head for Express as rivals answer your questions
10 Comments
Voters considering Reform UK know easy promises might not be delivered, says Lord Ashcroft
108 Comments
Keir Starmer's 'sweetheart deal' with the EU will make UK 'illegal migration capital'
69 Comments
Is Keir Starmer really the ‘change' Britain needs right now?
26 Comments
Rishi Sunak in fiery clash with BBC's Laura Kuenssberg over Brexit
1473 Comments
Angela Rayner's new social housing plans would be terrible for Britain
124 Comments
Wealth expert warns 'critical' policy missing from Conservative and Labour manifestos
3 Comments
David Cameron calls Starmer 'hopelessly naive' and that he will 'weaken Britain's defence'
186 Comments
Warning as Starmer risks Liz Truss-style meltdown with tax hike spree if Labour wins
415 Comments
Michael Gove issues countryside warning over Keir Starmer's 'bulldozing' UK plans
67 Comments
Conservatives warn of 'national ULEZ' road pricing nightmare if Labour wins
57 Comments
The data underpinning Labour's claims includes a significant rise in the cost of small boat crossings, now at ￡6,000 per person, and a total of 12,901 crossings by June 24th, 2024, with an estimated total revenue of ￡77.4 million for smuggling gangs this year.
They have also pointed out the impracticality of the Rwanda scheme, which would require 43 years to accommodate the current year's arrivals at the rate of 300 people per year.
Express.co.uk has reached out to the Conservative Party for comment.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Related articles Unelected officials must not be able to 'frustrate and undermine' Rwanda plan Key points from Tory party manifesto from tax cuts and new GPs to Rwanda European nation wants to channel inner UK and send Eritreans back to 3rd country Rishi Sunak promises to deport 100,000 illegal migrants under Rwanda plan Migrants in France admit they are delaying crossings for one major reason