Burnham pledges to be 'relentless' in curbing small boat crossings
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged a 'relentless' approach to curbing small boat crossings by increasing enforcement and strengthening international cooperation. The government has doubled the number of National Crime Agency officers tackling smuggling gangs to address public concerns over border control.
Why it matters
Illegal migration remains a highly contentious political issue in the UK, directly impacting government approval ratings and international relations with the EU.
Figure caption, PM Andy Burnham pledges to be 'relentless' on small boat crossings
Andy Burnham has pledged his government will be "relentless" in curbing the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats.
The prime minister said progress had been made and the government was "changing the whole approach", with enforcement officers tackling people-smuggling gangs doubled on both sides of the Channel.
"People want to see this issue addressed," he said in Dover, adding: "We also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs."
The Conservatives said that Labour had not delivered on its promises on migration, while Reform UK said if in government it would deploy the Royal Navy to ward off crossings.
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