Over ‘1,000 illegal migrants cross the English Channel in two days’

Over 1000 migrants have unlawfully crossed the English Channel on small boats in two days.

A minimum of 40 boats managed to reach Britain on Friday and Saturday.

At least 624 people reached the UK on Friday aboard 23 boats, the fourth highest daily tally on record during the crisis.

491 people, crossed on Saturday aboard 17 boats, according to numbers released by the Home Office on Sunday morning with more people were seen arriving in Dover on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a French minister has claimed “not one euro” of the £54 million the UK promised to France to try to stop migrants making the perilous journey across the English Channel has been paid and urged the UK government to ‘fulfil its promise’.

The UK Government said it would pay France millions to curb the flow of crossings, however, Home Secretary Priti Patel recently threatened to withhold the funding unless more people were stopped from reaching the UK.

More than 18,000 people have succeeded in making the dangerous trip across the Dover Strait aboard small boats in 2021, according to data compiled by PA news agency.

Speaking on Saturday during a visit to Dunkirk, France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said “not one euro has been paid” of the money pledged by the UK government to the French.

“We are asking the British to keep their promises of financing because we are holding the border for them,” Mr Darmanin said.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This year record numbers of people have put their lives in the hands of ruthless people smugglers and risked perilous channel crossings from French beaches.

“Joint cooperation with the French has led to nearly 300 arrests, 65 convictions and prevented more than 13,500 crossings. But with hundreds still risking their lives and making the crossing, all sides must do more.”