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| Two new barges to house migrants announced | Two new barges to house migrants announced |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The PM on migrants crossing the Channel: "The plan is working, numbers are down for the first ever time." | The PM on migrants crossing the Channel: "The plan is working, numbers are down for the first ever time." |
| The PM on migrants crossing the Channel: "The plan is working, numbers are down for the first ever time." | The PM on migrants crossing the Channel: "The plan is working, numbers are down for the first ever time." |
| Two new barges have been purchased to house up to 1,000 migrants, the prime minister has announced, as he said plans to tackle small boats crossing the Channel are working. | Two new barges have been purchased to house up to 1,000 migrants, the prime minister has announced, as he said plans to tackle small boats crossing the Channel are working. |
| Rishi Sunak said the location of the new barges will be announced soon. | Rishi Sunak said the location of the new barges will be announced soon. |
| It comes as the PM said the numbers making the crossing by small boats were down by a fifth since last year. | It comes as the PM said the numbers making the crossing by small boats were down by a fifth since last year. |
| He said a returns deal with Albania had led to 1,800 people being sent back to the country. | He said a returns deal with Albania had led to 1,800 people being sent back to the country. |
| The first barge to hold asylum seekers is due to dock in Portland Port this month, and will house 500 adult males claiming asylum in the UK. | The first barge to hold asylum seekers is due to dock in Portland Port this month, and will house 500 adult males claiming asylum in the UK. |
| Chris Mason: Sunak gives prominence to vast migration challenge | Chris Mason: Sunak gives prominence to vast migration challenge |
| Rishi Sunak's claims on small boats fact checked | Rishi Sunak's claims on small boats fact checked |
| How many people cross the Channel in small boats? | How many people cross the Channel in small boats? |
| How is the UK stopping Channel crossings? | How is the UK stopping Channel crossings? |
| Mr Sunak said the barges "will relieve pressure on local communities" and spaces in hotels being used to house migrants. | Mr Sunak said the barges "will relieve pressure on local communities" and spaces in hotels being used to house migrants. |
| Before the barges arrive, the government will do "extensive engagement with local communities" Mr Sunak added. | Before the barges arrive, the government will do "extensive engagement with local communities" Mr Sunak added. |
| On Sunday, dozens of protesters gathered around Portland port to ahead of the arrival the Bibby Stockolm barge, claiming the location was chosen without consulting locals. | On Sunday, dozens of protesters gathered around Portland port to ahead of the arrival the Bibby Stockolm barge, claiming the location was chosen without consulting locals. |
| Nearly 3,000 asylum seekers will also be housed on two military sites in Wethersfield and Scampton by the autumn, Mr Sunak said. | Nearly 3,000 asylum seekers will also be housed on two military sites in Wethersfield and Scampton by the autumn, Mr Sunak said. |
| Speaking in Kent, Mr Sunak said his plan to stop small boat crossings "is starting to work". | Speaking in Kent, Mr Sunak said his plan to stop small boat crossings "is starting to work". |
| Mr Sunak said crossings were down 20% between January and May this year, compared to the same period last year. | |
| Earlier, the Home Office told the BBC Mr Sunak had been speaking about January to March this year, when in fact crossings fell only fell by 17% compared to the same period in 2022. | |
| However, the department has now said he was referring to the figures for January to May after all. These show 7,610 arrivals, compared to 9,607 in the same period last year, a fall of almost 21%. | |
| This is compared to a 30% increase in the number of migrants entering the rest of Europe illegally over the same period, according to Mr Sunak. | This is compared to a 30% increase in the number of migrants entering the rest of Europe illegally over the same period, according to Mr Sunak. |
| However, the biggest increase in the numbers arriving by small boats in 2022 happened during the summer months. This is typically when the weather is best for crossing the Channel. | However, the biggest increase in the numbers arriving by small boats in 2022 happened during the summer months. This is typically when the weather is best for crossing the Channel. |
| A revised deal with the French authorities to stop migrant crossings prevented 33,000 illegal crossings last year, Mr Sunak added. | A revised deal with the French authorities to stop migrant crossings prevented 33,000 illegal crossings last year, Mr Sunak added. |
| Under the new agreement, signed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in November, the UK paid France £63m this year to invest in CCTV, policing and detention centres in French ports to try to prevent crossings. | |
| The prime minister added: "With grit and determination, the government can fix this and we are using every tool at our disposal." | |
| An estimated 500 male migrants will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm | An estimated 500 male migrants will be housed on the Bibby Stockholm |
| And Mr Sunak said the UK had gone from accepting about one in five Albanian asylum cases to just one in 50. | And Mr Sunak said the UK had gone from accepting about one in five Albanian asylum cases to just one in 50. |
| "So far this year, the number of Albanian small boat arrivals has fallen by almost 90%" year-on-year, he said. | |
| Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the government promoting a "policy that doesn't work" which is "costing a fortune for the taxpayer". | Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the government promoting a "policy that doesn't work" which is "costing a fortune for the taxpayer". |
| Sir Keir said the promise of further measures to tackle the crisis was "like Groundhog Day" as crossings continue this year. | Sir Keir said the promise of further measures to tackle the crisis was "like Groundhog Day" as crossings continue this year. |
| Home Office figures show about 7,600 people had been detected crossing the Channel so far this year. | Home Office figures show about 7,600 people had been detected crossing the Channel so far this year. |
| In total, 45,755 migrants crossed the Channel in 2022, the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018. | In total, 45,755 migrants crossed the Channel in 2022, the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018. |
| Crossings are heavily influenced by the weather and the summer months typically see higher numbers making the journey. | Crossings are heavily influenced by the weather and the summer months typically see higher numbers making the journey. |
| The government's Illegal Migration Bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords. The bill, which will place a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally, has been heavily criticised by peers. | The government's Illegal Migration Bill is currently being debated in the House of Lords. The bill, which will place a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally, has been heavily criticised by peers. |
| The measures, unveiled in March, are a key part of prime ministers plan to stop small boats crossing the English Channel - which he has made a priority ahead of the next general election. | The measures, unveiled in March, are a key part of prime ministers plan to stop small boats crossing the English Channel - which he has made a priority ahead of the next general election. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| English Channel | English Channel |
| Refugees and asylum seekers | Refugees and asylum seekers |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |
| Europe migrant crisis | Europe migrant crisis |