The home secretary described the numbers making the journey as “too high” but claimed it would have been “thousands” higher if the Conservative Party was still in power.
Some 34,880 people have arrived in Britain on small boats so far this year, up 20 per cent on this time last year but down 22 per cent on 2022. Ms Cooper repeatedly declined to say when the public could expect to see the number of small boat crossings fall.
She told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “These levels are far too high, this is dangerous what’s happening. Of course we want to continue to progress, of course we want to see the boat crossings come down as rapidly as possible.”
Ms Cooper conceded that remaining under 2022’s record high would be “no comfort” to people while numbers continue to rise.
This story is from the December 16, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 16, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Trans player Van Leuven is a winner even as she loses
As Noa-Lynn van Leuven approached the stage, red hair flowing and lipstick shimmering under the lights, it was hard to know what the reaction would be.
Liverpool's forgotten man will 'get minutes' in cup tie
It was seen as a no-brainer. Liverpool's £12m signing of Federico Chiesa - the Italian golden boy on his nation's triumphant European Championship title run three years ago was heralded from all angles as a coup for Arne Slot.
Fixture chaos is a blueprint for shocks and dark horses
In the immediate aftermath of the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola was dumbfounded.
Mudryk in 'complete shock' over banned substance test
Mykhailo Mudryk insists he has “not done anything wrong” after submitting a drug test sample which contained a banned substance.
Weakened job market is a grim sign of things to come
Recruiter Reed threw the cat among the pigeons when it warned of a sharp fall in the number of jobs being advertised – and suggested that a recession may be just around the corner.
What's at stake if US goes ahead with TikTok ban?
After amassing more than 170 million users in the country in less than seven years, TikTok is now facing an outright ban in the US.
Teen kills teacher and pupil in shooting at US school
A US community has been left traumatised after a 15-year-old female student killed a teacher and another pupil in a shooting spree at a Christian school in Wisconsin on Monday.
French fly flag in Damascus as West holds talks in Syria.
France has raised its flag at its Damascus embassy for the first time in 12 years and European Union officials prepared to engage with the new Syrian leadership, a sign of the growing contacts after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president on 8 December.
Gaza ceasefire in sight as expectations grow over deal
Hamas says an agreement will only be signed if Israel stops setting new conditions during 'serious and positive' talks
UK held migrants on island unlawfully, judge rules
A group of more than 60 asylum seekers were unlawfully detained by the UK on the remote island of Diego Garcia, a judge has ruled.
