Hundreds more small boat migrants arrive during Andy Burnham’s first week as Prime Minister than first seven days of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, it emerges, piling pressure on new PM to break his silence on immigration
Figures show that more small boat migrants crossed the Channel during Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister than arrived during Sir Keir Starmer's opening week in office, adding to pressure on the new premier to set out his stance on immigration. The comparison has been seized on by critics as evidence that a change of Labour leadership has done nothing to curb crossings, with Burnham so far declining to comment publicly on the issue since taking over in Downing Street.
The disclosure comes as Burnham faces mounting scrutiny on other fronts, having ruled out calling an early general election and declined to commit to a timetable for raising defence spending to 3% of GDP, a pledge his own Chancellor resigned over amid frustration at what was described as Starmer's "dithering". Together, the unresolved defence spending question and his silence on the Channel crossing figures are being framed as early tests of Burnham's premiership.
In short
- More small boat migrants arrived in Burnham's first week than Starmer's.
- Burnham yet to comment publicly on immigration since becoming PM.
- He has ruled out an early election and dodged the 3% defence pledge.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics reasonably contend that a new Prime Minister should address high-profile crises with visible urgency, particularly when headline figures suggest the problem has worsened rather than improved under new leadership. The silence on immigration—an area where the previous Labour government also struggled—may signal either an absence of clear solutions or insufficient priority given to a concern that demonstrably affects public confidence, inviting legitimate questions about whether this leadership change represents meaningful policy change or merely a reshuffle of the same approach.
The case against
A single week of crossing data cannot meaningfully assess immigration policy effectiveness, as sea conditions, weather patterns and smuggler operations create substantial natural variation in weekly figures. A responsible Prime Minister might prudently take time to develop a comprehensive strategy rather than respond reactively to early statistics, since premature comment without coherent policy substance could appear performative and undermine credibility on an issue that demands serious, long-term solutions rather than immediate pronouncements.
Explained simply
Andy Burnham is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, having recently taken office. He replaced Keir Starmer, who served as Prime Minister before him. Both are members of the Labour Party, which currently leads the government.
Small boat migration refers to migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats to reach the UK. These crossings have been a significant challenge for British governments over several years, generating substantial political debate about immigration and border control. The issue has proven difficult for successive administrations to resolve.
How a Prime Minister responds to small boat migration is widely seen as a test of their government's competence and priorities. This is particularly important when a party has recently changed leadership, as voters and political opponents alike judge whether the new administration brings a different approach to longstanding problems.
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