Channel boat migrants now over 13,000

ANOTHER 23 people crossed the Channel in a small boat on Friday – as the Government confirmed it was pressing ahead with plans to send migrants to Rwanda.

This brings the total number of people to have made the crossing so far this year to 13,124, which compares to 6,659 in 2021 and 2,459 in 2020 during the same period.

On Friday, Downing Street confirmed the Home Office agreement with Rwanda remained despite PM Boris Johnson’s resignation.

The first deportation flight could come before a legal challenge on July 19.