How can we turn the tide of cross-Channel casualties?

In what has become an all-too-common tragedy, two more people died trying to cross the English Channel on Sunday.

- SEAN O'GRADY

Their boat, containing about 50 asylum seekers, was rescued as it was making its way through French waters. The deaths bring the total number of fatalities over the past month to nine, and to 17 so far in 2024.

So-called illegal migration is obviously an issue of grave concern to both the governments concerned and the voters; the recent riots in England and Northern Ireland have been attributed, as an underlying cause, to public disquiet about immigration. The new Labour government has the opportunity to make a fresh start, but it is equally obviously an intractable problem...

What was the government’s response?

A spokesperson acknowledged the “tragic incident” had taken place, and added that it “underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings … We continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected.”

So what is the government doing about it?

Excellent question. It is a little over a month in, so there’s not been much time to make radical changes. However, ministers are proud that they’ve abolished, on day one of the Starmer administration, what they call the “gimmick” of the Rwanda plan which, the home secretary Yvette Cooper stated, was going to cost a total of £700m, or more, with little to show for it.