Andy Burnham attributes record Channel migrant arrivals to Brexit-driven cooperation loss

In a recent statement, Andy Burnham linked the recent spike in Channel migrant arrivals to the erosion of cross-border cooperation following Brexit. He noted that the United Kingdom no longer enjoys the same level of coordination it once had with France and other neighbours, which hampers efforts to stop illegal crossings. On Wednesday, 781 migrants made it to British shores by small boat, marking the highest daily figure recorded this year.

Home Office provisional statistics indicate that 18,565 migrants have arrived by small vessels in 2026 so far. Burnham acknowledged the challenge but said the government will continue striving to bring the number of crossings down to zero. He emphasized an ongoing commitment to address the crisis.