Andy Burnham said he would be “relentless” in tackling small boat crossings after a mass movement of migrants into the Spanish territory of Ceuta and outlined plans to press for safer legal routes for refugees.
Assurances from Madrid and a focus on control
The prime minister, speaking during a visit to Dover, said Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez had told him that roughly 98% of the estimated 50,000 people who entered Ceuta last week had now been returned to Morocco. He described that return operation as dealing “substantially” with the immediate issue but warned there were wider questions about Britain’s relationship with the Schengen area and co-operation with EU partners.
“I would want to be in regular dialogue with the EU on those issues,”
Burnham said the government wanted to reassure the public that borders were controlled while also offering support to people who genuinely needed protection. He framed the approach as a long-term change in policy, saying ministers were assembling the “building blocks of a very different approach” to migration across the Channel.
Statistics, enforcement and progress
Official provisional figures show 14,526 people have entered the UK so far this year by small boats, a drop from the same point last year. That total is 43% lower than the 25,436 recorded by this stage in 2025 and 14% lower than the 16,903 recorded by the equivalent date in 2024.
Burnham said the government was seeing progress but cautioned against complacency. He highlighted an increase in the number of National Crime Agency officers tackling organised immigration crime, which he said had grown from 376 at the start of 2025 to almost 800.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Estimated Ceuta arrivals | 50,000 |
| Returned to Morocco (approx.) | 98% |
| Small boat arrivals to UK so far this year | 14,526 |
| Small boat arrivals by same date 2025 | 25,436 |
| Small boat arrivals by same date 2024 | 16,903 |
Recent crossing activity and political context
The busiest day this week for Channel crossings was last Wednesday, when 752 people arrived in the UK. Home Office figures show that since Burnham became prime minister on 20 July, more than 2,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats; the most recent daily data recorded 326 arrivals on Saturday across four boats, taking the total under Burnham’s premiership to 2,057.
The prime minister argued for a shift in tone and policy: to move away from partisan point-scoring and towards practical measures that would both restore the impression of border control and provide safe routes for those in need. He said this balance was necessary to reassure the public while tackling the criminal gangs that exploit vulnerable people.
- Enforcement: National Crime Agency capability increased to nearly 800 officers focused on organised immigration crime.
- Diplomacy: Burnham signalled he would seek ongoing dialogue with the EU over Schengen and cross-border co-operation.
- Humanitarian direction: The prime minister called for safe, legal routes to reduce trafficking and dangerous sea crossings.
Asked whether he wanted to change the tone of public debate, Burnham said the government must “deal with the issue rather than play politics with the issue” and implement reforms that would give the public confidence in border management.
The prime minister’s comments come as ministers prepare to balance security measures with offers of support for genuine asylum seekers, while continuing diplomatic engagement after the large-scale movement into Ceuta prompted coordinated returns to Morocco.
As the government presses its case domestically, officials will also be watching whether progress in reducing crossings sustains and how continued co-operation with Spain and EU partners can be used to deter both mass movements and the organised criminal networks behind everyday Channel crossings.
