'Mega dinghy' carrying 230 migrants across Channel shows crackdown is working, says UK minister
An inflatable boat spotted carrying 230 people across the English Channel is a sign that a deal with France to crack down on people smugglers is working, a UK cabinet minister has said. The vessel – dubbed a mega dinghy – was spotted off the coast of France , crammed with migrants making the perilous journey to Britain. Recent weeks have seen the number of migrants on a single boat in the English…
An inflatable boat carrying 230 migrants across the English Channel has sparked debate about the effectiveness of a £660 million (US$891 million) agreement between the UK and France to combat people smuggling. Angered by the record-breaking numbers, UK cabinet minister Angela Rayner contends that the deal has been successful. Recent weeks have seen a sharp rise in the number of migrants per boat, from 165 in early July to 230 on Monday, with the overall number of crossings down by around 45 percent compared to this time last year.
The surge in passengers per vessel is believed to be due to efforts by French and UK authorities to seize the boats and stop people-smuggling gangs. Rayner condemned criminal gangs that put women and children on unsafe vessels, emphasizing that the UK would take practical steps to address the issue by working with France. In contrast, opposition MP Chris Philp criticized the government's handling of the situation, accusing the French authorities of doing nothing as illegal immigrants boarded the mega dinghy in shallow waters.
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