Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, in his first week as Prime Minister, defended his government's approach to tackling Channel crossings, saying "the plan is working" even as nearly 900 migrants arrived by small boat during that period. The comments highlight the political pressure facing the new administration to demonstrate control over irregular migration, an issue that has remained a persistent challenge for successive UK governments.

Burnham's insistence that progress is being made contrasts with the scale of arrivals recorded in his opening days in office, underscoring the gap between government messaging and the ongoing reality of crossings. The figures add to scrutiny of how the new leadership intends to distinguish its strategy from that of its predecessors.