UK Defence Secretary John Healey has stated that Britain has lost control of its immigration policy over the past five years. In an interview with Sky News, he blamed the previous government for leaving the asylum system in disarray, which has led to record levels of migration.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration in 2024 stood at +431,000. In comparison, the figure reached 860,000 in 2023, and during the 12-month period ending in June 2023, a historic peak of 906,000 was recorded.
Healey also commented on the issue of illegal migration across the English Channel. He noted that hundreds of migrants crossed the Channel last Saturday, while French police reportedly made no attempt to stop them from boarding small boats off the coast near Gravelines. The minister described this inaction as “shocking” and stressed that the inability to intercept these crossings represents a serious problem.
In 2024, over 36,800 illegal migrants arrived in the UK via small boats across the Channel — a 25% increase compared to the previous year. The British government continues to spend millions of pounds each day on accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.
