Number of migrants arriving to Britain in small boats drops 36% in 2023
New York PostDEC 2023
UK: Small Boat Channel Crossings Fell 36% in 2023
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The Spin
Right narrative
With stopping the boats being one of Sunak's core pledges having entered office, the Home Office's statistics are a welcome return for the government and a positive start to 2024. While it's clear that there is much more to do, and the near-return channel crossing levels seen in 2021 will not satisfy anyone, progress is certainly being made — especially compared to the dangerous upward trends being witnessed across the rest of Europe.
Left narrative
With 2023 being the second-highest year for channel crossings since the problem's rise, Sunak has in no way delivered on his promise and finished 2023 having completed only one of his five pledges. The administration has failed to remedy the problem created on its own watch and continues to hedge bets on popularity via gimmick policies such as the Rwanda Bill rather than truly attempting to revive the UK.