UK PM says Channel migrants ‘changing tactics’

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged on Friday that asylum seekers arriving in the UK from France are changing their tactics, after hundreds of people made perilous crossings on small boats this week. A total of 781 individuals arrived on Wednesday, a daily record for 2026, though numbers remain below previous years.

Burnham told BBC South East that the smugglers behind these crossings would be pursued relentlessly, despite recent protests in southern England. Prominent far-right activist Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, led protests with hundreds of supporters dressed in black and face coverings, attempting to block migrant entry at various ports. Thomas was charged with criminal damage on Thursday for allegedly slashing a dinghy in the Channel.

Burnham recognized concerns about immigration but emphasized that this issue is different. He stated that while the British way is not the same, his government is committed to addressing the problem. The Labour leader noted that successive governments have struggled to curb the crossings, which have become a contentious issue in the UK, with the hard-right Reform UK party gaining popularity due to growing anti-immigration sentiment.

Burnham credited his predecessor's measures for curbing irregular migration, but acknowledged that the loss of collaboration with neighboring countries since Britain's Brexit exit in 2020 had worsened the situation. He expressed hope that the measures taken will lead to a halt in small boat crossings, though he did not specify a timeline for achieving this goal.

The Labour Party, buoyed by optimistic polls, will hold its first annual conference with Burnham at the helm, where the new leader aims to provide more concrete policy outlines.