Andy Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been accused of being "out of touch" after new images emerged showing migrants preparing to cross the Channel to the UK, just hours after he claimed that "the plan is working" to curb small boat crossings. Critics seized on the timing as evidence that his upbeat assessment was disconnected from reality on the ground, reigniting criticism of the Government's handling of the small boats crisis.

The row adds to mounting pressure on Burnham, who is already facing internal Labour tensions over other policy areas, including a threatened Left-wing rebellion against "punitive" benefits cuts. The clash highlights the ongoing political sensitivity around Channel crossings and the difficulty ministers and prominent Labour figures face in claiming progress while crossings continue to be visibly documented.