Record Channel Crossings Mark a Tumultuous Year for UK
The final migrant crossings of 2022 happened on Christmas Day, with 90 people making the perilous journey from France in two boats. Bad weather then slammed the brakes on further attempts, with the Ministry of Defence reporting zero crossings in the last six days of the year.
2022 Sees Big Spike in Channel Crossings
The preliminary total for 2022 smashed previous records, soaring 60% above the 28,526 arrivals logged for the whole of 2021. Officials warn numbers are still below Home Office estimates of 60,000 but exclude those arriving on larger vessels like yachts and fishing boats – though these are believed to be rare for irregular migrants at present.
Braverman’s Battle on Migrant Crisis
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has declared war on illegal crossings. She’s laser-focused on pushing the controversial Rwanda plan – a policy signed off by Priti Patel last April – which aims to send migrants to the East African country for processing. Despite High Court approval, the scheme faces legal snags that have stalled its roll-out.
Since the agreement, over 40,000 migrants have still made the dangerous Channel crossing.
Sunak Pledges Tough New Laws and Housing Overhaul
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed new laws in 2023 to make it crystal clear: if you enter the UK illegally, you won’t stay. Part of the crackdown includes scrapping the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. Instead, the Government will use empty holiday parks, former student accommodation, and military sites to tackle the backlog.
Braverman also confirmed plans to dock migrants on decommissioned cruise ships and revealed a massive £3.5 billion budget boost for the asylum system, with £2.3 billion alone spent on hotels last year.
Controversy and Wider Crackdowns Ahead
Former PM Theresa May warned that proposed reforms to modern slavery laws risk new loopholes, after Braverman accused some migrants of “gaming the system” to dodge deportation. Meanwhile, ministers plan to tighten legal migration rules, targeting foreign students, restricting spousal visas, and hiking minimum wages for skilled workers.
The migrant saga shows no signs of slowing as the UK Government scrambles to plug holes and regain control of its borders.
