'Mega dinghy' carrying 230 migrants across Channel shows crackdown is working, says UK minister

A record-breaking inflatable boat carrying 230 people across the English Channel has been spotted, suggesting that the UK's £660 million agreement with France to combat people smuggling is proving effective, according to UK Cabinet Minister Angela Rayner. The boat, dubbed a mega dinghy, was discovered off the French coast, packed with migrants attempting to reach Britain.

In recent weeks, the number of migrants on a single vessel in the English Channel has surged from 165 on July 23 to 173 last week, before reaching the record-breaking 230 on Monday. However, the overall number of people crossing the channel has decreased by around 45% compared to this time last year. Rayner attributed the trend to the agreement with France, which has seen riot police deployed on beaches and payments to France contingent on results.

She noted that people smugglers are taking greater risks by cramming more migrants into each boat to compensate for fewer crossings. Rayner contrasted the agreement with France with a plan proposed by the right-wing party Reform UK, which involves deploying the Royal Navy to stop migrants crossing in small boats. Rayner emphasized that the Labour government would take "actual practical steps" and work with France to prevent illegal immigration, already seeing positive results.

The rise in numbers coincided with the "one-in-one-out" deal with France, which allows migrants arriving by small boat from France to be returned in exchange for another person legally claiming asylum in Britain. The increase in passengers per boat has also been linked to efforts by French and UK authorities to seize boats and prevent them from reaching people-smuggling gangs.