As many as 100 Channel migrants arrive today on vessels branded 'Burnham's boats', piling pressure on new PM to set out immigration plans

Published: 17:55, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 17:57, 22 July 2026 Scrambling onto a dinghy off the coast of northern France, these migrants were thought to be among dozens who arrived today on vessels branded ‘Burnham’s boats’. In a busy day for crossings which saw the first arrivals under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, sources said as many as 100 migrants have successfully crossed the Channel. It piled pressure on Mr Burnham to break his silence over his immigration plans, having failed to mention the issue for three days despite it being among voters’ top concerns in a string of polls. He has unveiled a commitment to eradicate rough sleeping, an unfunded VAT cut to household energy bills and a price cap on bus fares of £2. But the public remains in the dark about what he plans to do on immigration, including small-boat crossings. The arrivals came after figures showed small boat migrants accounted for less than one in ten (7%) deportations last year. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: ‘With Open Borders Burnham now in charge, there has never been a better time to be an illegal migrant.’ Migrants were seen boarding a boat off the coast of Equihen-Plage, France, this morning after dozens crowded a nearby beach Some migrants were left behind after the boat set off and were seen being helped back to shore by French authorities  Migrants were seen boarding a boat off the coast of Equihen-Plage, France, this morning after dozens crowded a nearby beach The party’s Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf added: ‘Like the Tories, Labour continue to leave our borders open and welcome hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants from countries that hate Britain. ‘They deport almost none of them, instead letting them live a life of leisure at the expense of the British taxpayer. Reform will detain and deport all illegal migrants in Britain.’ The pictured migrants were seen racing to board the large vessel at Equihen-Plage near Boulogne-sur-Mer, south of Calais, this morning. Footage showed the boat leaving the shore with some of the migrants waving to others left behind in the water. French authorities were seen handing out life jackets and trying to rescue those in the sea after crowds of mostly men descended on the beach. Some 77,183 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since Labour’s election victory in July 2024. While the number of arrivals so far this year - more than 12,000 - is 47% down on last year, experts believe crossings could get going again. No crossings have been recorded since July 10. Tony Smith, a former Border Force chief, said this may partly be explained by windy weather which made the Channel’s waters choppier. However, he also said there were signs that greater attempts by British and French police to disrupt smuggling gangs may be bearing fruit. He said: ‘The weather may partly explain the numbers coming down. But you can’t argue with the figures. ‘There are other factors at play. I think some of the work that the Border Security Command agency has been doing, the upstream disruption, there have been more seizures of boats and engines in Europe. ‘I think that’s had an impact and that it’s harder to get so many dinghies into northern France as it was before.’ It came as 50 boats and engines destined for Channel people-smuggling gangs were seized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) at the Port of Felixstowe, Suffolk. At least 25 ten-metre-long rubber boats – which could carry at least 80 people each – and 25 Parsun outboard engines were found by officers on Saturday in a container shipped from China. It is said to be the first time a bulk consignment of its kind has been seized in the UK and may have disrupted an estimated 2,000 migrants’ crossing attempts. Investigators believe the cargo was due to be delivered at the next stop in Hamburg, in Germany – a ‘well-known staging post’ for boats and equipment used by Channel people smugglers in northern France and Belgium, the NCA said. A Home Office spokesman said: ‘This Government is bearing down on small boat crossings, with removals of small boat migrants at record levels and asylum claims down by 12%. ‘The Home Secretary has signed a landmark new payment by results deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars. ‘This builds on joint work that has stopped over 45,000 attempted crossings since the election. ‘We have removed or deported almost 70,000 people who were here illegally – an increase of 41% – and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country.’