More than 180 migrants arrived in the UK by boat yesterday
More than 180 migrants arrived in the UK by boat yesterday as total this year passes 6,000 – as Boris Johnson doubles down on Rwanda scheme and Priti Patel says it will become a ‘blueprint for Europe’
- The MoD confirmed 181 migrants crossed to the UK on six boats on Good Friday
- The Royal Navy took over ‘operational command’ of handling migrants crossing
- The MoD said patrol vessels are being used to bolster capability in the Channel
More than 6,000 people have been brought ashore after crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed 181 migrants crossed to the UK on six boats on Good Friday, with more expected during the good weather over the Easter weekend.
The UK is predicted to be warmer than Greece and Turkey as temperatures soar to 23C (73.4F).
The Royal Navy took over ‘operational command’ of handling migrants crossing the Channel on Thursday as part of a shake-up which will see the planned transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda.
More than 6,000 people have been brought ashore after crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year
The Ministry of Defence confirmed 181 migrants crossed to the UK on six boats on Good Friday, with more expected during the good weather over the Easter weekend
Political commentator Nigel Farage criticised the Navy’s involvement on Friday as a ‘waste of time and resources’, claiming the vessels used are ‘too high’ to take people on board so their role is limited to towing back empty dinghies.
A MoD spokeswoman said the patrol vessels are being used to bolster the capability in the Channel until ‘more appropriate’ boats are sourced.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this week that about 600 people had arrived in the UK on Wednesday, which would make it the highest number so far this year, although this figure has not yet been confirmed by either the Home Office or the MoD.
A further 562 arrived on Thursday on 14 boats, which brings the total for the year to approximately 6,000.
Migrants arrive at Dover Port after after being picked up in the channel by the border force on April 16
A further 562 arrived on Thursday on 14 boats, which brings the total for the year to approximately 6,000
The Royal Navy took over ‘operational command’ of handling migrants crossing the Channel on Thursday as part of a shake-up which will see the planned transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda
Political commentator Nigel Farage criticised the Navy’s involvement on Friday as a ‘waste of time and resources’
A record 1,185 people made the crossing to the UK on November 11, 2021 – the highest recorded so far since the start of 2020.
In March this year, 3,066 people made the crossing.
This is nearly four times the amount recorded for the same month in 2021 (831) and more than 16 times the number in March 2020 (187).
It is also the fourth highest monthly total recorded since the start of 2020, behind July (3,510), September (4,652) and November (6,869) last year.
A total of 28,395 people made the crossing in 2021, compared with 8,417 in 2020.
A MoD spokeswoman said the patrol vessels are being used to bolster the capability in the Channel until ‘more appropriate’ boats are sourced
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this week that about 600 people had arrived in the UK on Wednesday, which would make it the highest number so far this year
A record 1,185 people made the crossing to the UK on November 11, 2021 – the highest recorded so far since the start of 2020
It comes as Met Office forecasters said the warm weather that parts of England saw on Friday is expected to expand further across the nation, rather than being concentrated in one area, on Saturday.
The mercury hit 23.4C (74.1F) in St James’s Park in central London on Good Friday afternoon, making it hotter than California, with the rest of the warm weather being concentrated in the South East.
On Saturday, the weather is expected to be dry with temperatures rising to 23C (73.4F) in the West Midlands and eastern Wales, the Met Office said, while the northern, central and south eastern parts of England are predicted to see highs of 20C (68F).
Easter Sunday is expected to remain dry with temperatures falling to 19C (66.2F) and lower across England and Wales while Scotland is predicted to see highs of 16C (60.8F) and Northern Ireland with highs of 12C (53.6F).
Western parts of the UK may also see clouds, while rainfall across Northern Ireland may spread to western Britain overnight.
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