Small boat migrants accounted for less than one in ten deportations last year, figures reveal, piling pressure on Andy Burnham to break his silence over his immigration plans
New figures show that migrants who arrived in the UK via small boats made up fewer than one in ten of all deportations carried out last year, undermining claims that tackling Channel crossings is the key lever for reducing removals. The data adds to pressure on Andy Burnham, who has yet to set out clear immigration policies since becoming Prime Minister, with critics arguing the figures expose a gap between the government's rhetoric on stopping the boats and the practical reality of who is actually being removed from the country.
The bulk of deportations last year involved foreign nationals who entered the UK through other routes, such as visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers who arrived by aircraft or other means, rather than those crossing in small boats. Burnham's silence on his own immigration strategy has drawn criticism from opponents and some in his own party, who say the small-boats-focused political debate does not reflect where enforcement resources are actually being directed.
In short
- Small boat migrants made up under 10% of deportations last year.
- Figures challenge focus on Channel crossings as deportation priority.
- Andy Burnham faces pressure to reveal his immigration policy plans.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the small boats focus would argue that preventing unauthorised maritime entry is fundamentally distinct from managing deportations of established residents. Stopping boats at the border prevents illegal entry, whereas visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers must be removed after arrival; these are separate policy challenges requiring different approaches. The public's concerns about sovereignty and dangerous crossings legitimately justify prioritising this route regardless of what proportion it represents in deportation statistics.
The case against
Critics contend that the data reveals a mismatch between political emphasis and practical enforcement priorities. With small boats accounting for less than ten per cent of deportations, the larger shares—visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers arriving via other routes—should logically receive proportional policy focus and resources, yet they do not. This gap suggests the government's narrative misleadingly frames the immigration challenge in ways unaligned with where enforcement effort is actually concentrated.
Explained simply
Migrants crossing the English Channel to reach the UK in small boats has become a major political issue in recent years. These dangerous crossings have become a focal point of immigration debates, with successive governments emphasising the importance of preventing them.
Deportation is the process of removing foreign nationals from the UK. The government removes people for various reasons, including those who overstayed their visas, failed asylum seekers who arrived by plane or other means, and those who entered via unauthorised routes.
Andy Burnham is the Prime Minister. How the government manages migration—both preventing new arrivals and removing foreign nationals already in the country—is a central area of political debate.